CHAPTER VII

      THEPRICEOFPOWERANDTHEWORTHOFFAME

      Sunday,July1st.

      YesterdaythemonthdedicatedtoJuno(Junius,June)bytheRomansended.

      To-dayweenteronJuly.

      InancientRomethislattermonthwascalledQuintiles(thefifth),becausetheyear,whichwasthendividedintoonlytenparts,beganinMarch.WhenNumaPompiliusdivideditintotwelvemonthsthisnameofQuintileswaspreserved,aswellasthosethatfollowed——Sexteles,September,October,November,December——althoughthesedesignationsdidnotaccordwiththenewlyarrangedorderofthemonths.Atlast,afteratimethemonthQuintiles,inwhichJuliusCaesarwasborn,wascalledJulius,whencewehaveJuly.Thusthisname,placedinthecalendar,isbecometheimperishablerecordofagreatman;itisanimmortalepitaphonTimeshighway,engravedbytheadmirationofman.

      Howmanysimilarinscriptionsarethere!Seas,continents,mountains,stars,andmonuments,haveallinsuccessionservedthesamepurpose!WehaveturnedthewholeworldintoaGoldenBook,likethatinwhichthestateofVeniceusedtoenrollitsillustriousnamesanditsgreatdeeds.

      Itseemsthatmankindfeelsanecessityforhonoringitselfinitselectones,andthatitraisesitselfinitsowneyesbychoosingheroesfromamongitsownrace.Thehumanfamilylovetopreservethememory;oftheparvenusofglory,aswecherishthatofagreatancestor,orofabenefactor.

      Infact,thetalentsgrantedtoasingleindividualdonotbenefithimselfalone,butaregiftstotheworld;everyonesharesthem,foreveryonesuffersorbenefitsbyhisactions.Geniusisalighthouse,meanttogivelightfromafar;themanwhobearsitisbuttherockuponwhichthislighthouseisbuilt.

      Ilovetodwelluponthesethoughts;theyexplaintomeinwhatconsistsouradmirationforglory.Whengloryhasbenefitedmen,thatadmirationisgratitude;whenitisonlyremarkableinitself,itistheprideofrace;asmen,welovetoimmortalizethemostshiningexamplesofhumanity.

      Whoknowswhetherwedonotobeythesameinstinctinsubmittingtothehandofpower?Apartfromtherequirementsofagradationofranks,ortheconsequencesofaconquest,themultitudedelighttosurroundtheirchiefswithprivileges——whetheritbethattheirvanitymakesthemthustoaggrandizeoneoftheirowncreations,orwhethertheytrytoconcealthehumiliationofsubjectionbyexaggeratingtheimportanceofthosewhorulethem.Theywishtohonorthemselvesthroughtheirmaster;theyelevatehimontheirshouldersasonapedestal;theysurroundhimwithahalooflight,inorderthatsomeofitmaybereflecteduponthemselves.

      Itisstillthefableofthedogwhocontentshimselfwiththechainandcollar,sothattheyareofgold.

      Thisservilevanityisnotlessnaturalorlesscommonthanthevanityofdominion.Whoeverfeelshimselfincapableofcommand,atleastdesirestoobeyapowerfulchief.Serfshavebeenknowntoconsiderthemselvesdishonoredwhentheybecamethepropertyofamerecountafterhavingbeenthatofaprince,andSaint-Simonmentionsavaletwhowouldonlywaituponmarquises.

      July7th,sevenoclockP.M——IhavejustnowbeenuptheBoulevards;itwastheoperanight,andtherewasacrowdofcarriagesintheRueLepelletier.Thefoot-passengerswhowerestoppedatacrossingrecognizedthepersonsinsomeoftheseaswewentby,andmentionedtheirnames;theywerethoseofcelebratedorpowerfulmen,thesuccessfulonesoftheday.

      Nearmetherewasamanlookingonwithhollowcheeksandeagereyes,whosethinblackcoatwasthreadbare.Hefollowedwithenviouslooksthesepossessorsoftheprivilegesofpoweroroffame,andIreadonhislips,whichcurledwithabittersmile,allthatpassedinhismind.

      "Lookatthem,theluckyfellows!"thoughthe;"allthepleasuresofwealth,alltheenjoymentsofpride,aretheirs.Theirnamesarerenowned,alltheirwishesfulfilled;theyarethesovereignsoftheworld,eitherbytheirintellectortheirpower;andwhileI,poorandunknown,toilpainfullyalongtheroadbelow,theywingtheirwayoverthemountain-topsgildedbythebroadsunshineofprosperity."

      Ihavecomehomeindeepthought.Isittruethattherearetheseinequalities,Idonotsayinthefortunes,butinthehappinessofmen?

      Dogeniusandauthorityreallywearlifeasacrown,whilethegreaterpartofmankindreceiveitasayoke?Isthedifferenceofrankbutadifferentuseofmensdispositionsandtalents,orarealinequalityintheirdestinies?Asolemnquestion,asitregardstheverificationofGodsimpartiality.

      July8th,noon——Iwentthismorningtocalluponafriendfromthesameprovinceasmyself,whoisthefirstusher-in-waitingtooneofourministers.Itookhimsomelettersfromhisfamily,leftforhimbyatravellerjustcomefromBrittany.Hewishedmetostay.

      "To-day,"saidhe,"theMinistergivesnoaudience:hetakesadayofrestwithhisfamily.Hisyoungersistersarearrived;hewilltakethemthismorningtoSt.Cloud,andintheeveninghehasinvitedhisfriendstoaprivateball.Ishallbedismisseddirectlyfortherestoftheday.Wecandinetogether;readthenewswhileyouarewaitingforme."

      Isatdownatatablecoveredwithnewspapers,allofwhichIlookedoverbyturns.Mostofthemcontainedseverecriticismsonthelastpoliticalactsoftheminister;someofthemaddedsuspicionsastothehonoroftheministerhimself.

      JustasIhadfinishedreading,asecretarycameforthemtotakethemtohismaster.

      Hewasthenabouttoreadtheseaccusations,tosuffersilentlytheabuseofallthosetongueswhichwereholdinghimuptoindignationortoscorn!LiketheRomanvictorinhistriumph,hehadtoenduretheinsultsofhimwhofollowedhiscar,relatingtothecrowdhisfollies,hisignorance,orhisvices.

      But,amongthearrowsshotathimfromeveryside,wouldnoonebefoundpoisoned?Wouldnotonereachsomespotinhisheartwherethewoundwouldbeincurable?Whatistheworthofalifeexposedtotheattacksofenvioushatredorfuriousconviction?TheChristiansyieldedonlythefragmentsoftheirfleshtothebeastsoftheamphitheatres;themaninpowergivesuphispeace,hisaffections,hishonor,tothecruelbitesofthepen.

      WhileIwasmusinguponthesedangersofgreatness,theusherenteredhastily.Importantnewshadbeenreceived:theministerisjustsummonedtothecouncil;hewillnotbeabletotakehissisterstoSt.Cloud.

      Isaw,throughthewindows,theyoungladies,whowerewaitingatthedoor,sorrowfullygoupstairsagain,whiletheirbrotherwentofftothecouncil.Thecarriage,whichshouldhavegonefilledwithsomuchfamilyhappiness,isjustoutofsight,carryingonlythecaresofastatesmaninit.

      Theushercamebackdiscontentedanddisappointed.Themoreorlessoflibertywhichheisallowedtoenjoy,ishisbarometerofthepoliticalatmosphere.Ifhegetsleave,allgoeswell;ifheiskeptathispost,thecountryisindanger.Hisopiniononpublicaffairsisbutacalculationofhisowninterest.Myfriendisalmostastatesman.

      Ihadsomeconversationwithhim,andhetoldmeseveralcuriousparticularsofpubliclife.

      Thenewministerhasoldfriendswhoseopinionsheopposes,thoughhestillretainshispersonalregardforthem.Thoughseparatedfromthembythecolorshefightsunder,theyremainunitedbyoldassociations;buttheexigenciesofpartyforbidhimtomeetthem.Iftheirintercoursecontinued,itwouldawakensuspicion;peoplewouldimaginethatsomedishonorablebargainwasgoingon;hisfriendswouldbeheldtobetraitorsdesiroustosellthemselves,andhethecorruptministerpreparedtobuythem.Hehas,therefore,beenobligedtobreakofffriendshipsoftwentyyearsstanding,andtosacrificeattachmentswhichhadbecomeasecondnature.

      Sometimes,however,theministerstillgiveswaytohisoldfeelings;hereceivesorvisitshisfriendsprivately;heshutshimselfupwiththem,andtalksofthetimeswhentheycouldbeopenfriends.Bydintofprecautionstheyhavehithertosucceededinconcealingthisblotoffriendshipagainstpolicy;butsoonerorlaterthenewspaperswillbeinformedofit,andwilldenouncehimtothecountryasanobjectofdistrust.

      Forwhetherhatredbehonestordishonest,itnevershrinksfromanyaccusation.Sometimesitevenproceedstocrime.Theusherassuredmethatseveralwarningshadbeengiventheministerwhichhadmadehimfearthevengeanceofanassassin,andthathenolongerventuredoutonfoot.

      Then,fromonethingtoanother,Ilearnedwhattemptationscameintomisleadorovercomehisjudgment;howhefoundhimselffatallyledintoobliquitieswhichhecouldnotbutdeplore.Misledbypassion,over-persuadedbyentreaties,orcompelledforreputationssake,hehasmanytimesheldthebalancewithanunsteadyhand.Howsadtheconditionofhimwhoisinauthority!Notonlyarethemiseriesofpowerimposeduponhim,butitsvicesalso,which,notcontentwithtorturing,succeedincorruptinghim.

      Weprolongedourconversationtillitwasinterruptedbytheministersreturn.Hethrewhimselfoutofthecarriagewithahandfulofpapers,andwithananxiousmannerwentintohisownroom.Aninstantafterwardhisbellwasheard;hissecretarywascalledtosendoffnoticestoallthoseinvitedfortheevening;theballwouldnottakeplace;theyspokemysteriouslyofbadnewstransmittedbythetelegraph,andinsuchcircumstancesanentertainmentwouldseemtoinsultthepublicsorrow.

      Itookleaveofmyfriend,andhereIamathome.WhatIhavejustseenisananswertomydoubtstheotherday.NowIknowwithwhatpangsmenpayfortheirdignities;nowIunderstandThatFortunesellswhatwebelieveshegives.

      ThisexplainstomethereasonwhyCharlesVaspiredtothereposeofthecloister.

      AndyetIhaveonlyglancedatsomeofthesufferingsattachedtopower.

      WhatshallIsayofthefallsinwhichitspossessorsareprecipitatedfromtheheightsofheaventotheverydepthsoftheearth?ofthatpathofpainalongwhichtheymustforeverbeartheburdenoftheirresponsibility?ofthatchainofdecorumsandennuiswhichencompasseseveryactoftheirlives,andleavesthemsolittleliberty?

      Thepartisansofdespotismadherewithreasontoformsandceremonies.

      Ifmenwishtogiveunlimitedpowertotheirfellow-man,theymustkeephimseparatedfromordinaryhumanity;theymustsurroundhimwithacontinualworship,and,byaconstantceremonial,keepupforhimthesuperhumanparttheyhavegrantedhim.Ourmasterscannotremainabsolute,exceptonconditionofbeingtreatedasidols.

      But,afterall,theseidolsaremen,and,iftheexclusivelifetheymustleadisaninsulttothedignityofothers,itisalsoatormenttothemselves.EveryoneknowsthelawoftheSpanishcourt,whichusedtoregulate,hourbyhour,theactionsofthekingandqueen;"sothat,"

      saysVoltaire,"byreadingitonecantellallthatthesovereignsofSpainhavedone,orwilldo,fromPhilipIItothedayofjudgment."ItwasbythislawthatPhilipIII,whensick,wasobligedtoenduresuchanexcessofheatthathediedinconsequence,becausetheDukeofUzeda,whoalonehadtherighttoputoutthefireintheroyalchamber,happenedtobeabsent.

      WhenthewifeofCharlesIIwasrunawaywithonaspiritedhorse,shewasabouttoperishbeforeanyonedaredtosaveher,becauseetiquetteforbadethemtotouchthequeen.Twoyoungofficersendangeredtheirlivesforherbystoppingthehorse.Theprayersandtearsofherwhomtheyhadjustsnatchedfromdeathwerenecessarytoobtainpardonfortheircrime.EveryoneknowstheanecdoterelatedbyMadameCampanofMarieAntoinette,wifeofLouisXVI.Oneday,beingathertoilet,whenthechemisewasabouttobepresentedtoherbyoneoftheassistants,aladyofveryancientfamilyenteredandclaimedthehonor,asshehadtherightbyetiquette;but,atthemomentshewasabouttofulfilherduty,aladyofhigherrankappeared,andinherturntookthegarmentshewasabouttooffertothequeen;whenathirdladyofstillhighertitlecameinherturn,andwasfollowedbyafourth,whowasnootherthanthekingssister.Thechemisewasinthismannerpassedfromhandtohand,withceremonies,courtesies,andcompliments,beforeitcametothequeen,who,halfnakedandquiteashamed,wasshiveringwithcoldforthegreathonorofetiquette.

      12th,sevenoclock,P.M——Oncominghomethisevening,Isaw,standingatthedoorofahouse,anoldman,whoseappearanceandfeaturesremindedmeofmyfather.Therewasthesamebeautifulsmile,thesamedeepandpenetratingeye,thesamenoblebearingofthehead,andthesamecarelessattitude.

      Ibeganlivingoveragainthefirstyearsofmylife,andrecallingtomyselftheconversationsofthatguidewhomGodinhismercyhadgivenme,andwhominhisseverityhehadtoosoonwithdrawn.

      Whenmyfatherspoke,itwasnotonlytobringourtwomindstogetherbyaninterchangeofthought,buthiswordsalwayscontainedinstruction.

      Notthatheendeavoredtomakemefeelitso:myfatherfearedeverythingthathadtheappearanceofalesson.Heusedtosaythatvirtuecouldmakeherselfdevotedfriends,butshedidnottakepupils:thereforehewasnotdesiroustoteachgoodness;hecontentedhimselfwithsowingtheseedsofit,certainthatexperiencewouldmakethemgrow.

      Howoftenhasgoodgrainfallenthusintoacorneroftheheart,and,whenithasbeenlongforgotten,allatonceputforththebladeandcomeintoear!Itisatreasurelaidasideinatimeofignorance,andwedonotknowitsvaluetillwefindourselvesinneedofit.

      Amongthestorieswithwhichheenlivenedourwalksorourevenings,thereisonewhichnowreturnstomymemory,doubtlessbecausethetimeiscometoderiveitslessonfromit.

      Myfather,whowasapprenticedattheageoftwelvetooneofthosetradingcollectorswhocallthemselvesnaturalists,becausetheyputallcreationunderglassesthattheymaysellitbyretail,hadalwaysledalifeofpovertyandlabor.Obligedtorisebeforedaybreak,byturnsshop-boy,clerk,andlaborer,hewasmadetobearalonealltheworkofatradeofwhichhismasterreapedalltheprofits.Intruth,thislatterhadapeculiartalentformakingthemostofthelaborofotherpeople.

      Thoughunfithimselffortheexecutionofanykindofwork,nooneknewbetterhowtosellit.Hiswordswereanet,inwhichpeoplefoundthemselvestakenbeforetheywereaware.Andsincehewasdevotedtohimselfalone,andlookedontheproducerashisenemy,andthebuyerasprey,heusedthembothwiththatobstinateperseverancewhichavariceteaches.

      Myfatherwasaslavealltheweek,andcouldcallhimselfhisownonlyonSunday.Themasternaturalist,whousedtospendthedayatthehouseofanoldfemalerelative,thengavehimhislibertyonconditionthathedinedout,andathisownexpense.Butmyfatherusedsecretlytotakewithhimacrustofbread,whichhehidinhisbotanizing-box,and,leavingParisassoonasitwasday,hewouldwanderfarintothevalleyofMontmorency,thewoodofMeudon,oramongthewindingsoftheMarne.

      Excitedbythefreshair,thepenetratingperfumeofthegrowingvegetation,orthefragranceofthehoneysuckles,hewouldwalkonuntilhungerorfatiguemadeitselffelt.Thenhewouldsitunderahedge,orbythesideofastream,andwouldmakearusticfeast,byturnsonwatercresses,woodstrawberries,andblackberriespickedfromthehedges;hewouldgatherafewplants,readafewpagesofFlorian,theningreatestvogue,ofGessner,whowasjusttranslated,orofJeanJacques,ofwhomhepossessedthreeoldvolumes.Thedaywasthuspassedalternatelyinactivityandrest,inpursuitandmeditation,untilthedecliningsunwarnedhimtotakeagaintheroadtoParis,wherehewouldarrive,hisfeettornanddusty,buthismindinvigoratedforawholeweek.

      Oneday,ashewasgoingtowardthewoodofViroflay,hemet,closetoit,astrangerwhowasoccupiedinbotanizingandinsortingtheplantshehadjustgathered.Hewasanelderlymanwithanhonestface;buthiseyes,whichwereratherdeep-setunderhiseyebrows,hadasomewhatuneasyandtimidexpression.Hewasdressedinabrownclothcoat,agraywaistcoat,blackbreeches,andworstedstockings,andheldanivory-headedcaneunderhisarm.Hisappearancewasthatofasmallretiredtradesmanwhowaslivingonhismeans,andratherbelowthegoldenmeanofHorace.

      Myfather,whohadgreatrespectforage,civillyraisedhishattohimashepassed.Indoingso,aplantheheldfellfromhishand;thestrangerstoopedtotakeitup,andrecognizedit.

      "ItisaDeutariaheptaphyllos,"saidhe;"Ihavenotyetseenanyoftheminthesewoods;didyoufinditnearhere,sir?"

      Myfatherrepliedthatitwastobefoundinabundanceonthetopofthehill,towardSevres,aswellasthegreatLaserpitium.

      "That,too!"repeatedtheoldmanmorebriskly."Ah!Ishallgoandlookforthem;IhavegatheredthemformerlyonthehillsideofRobaila."

      Myfatherproposedtotakehim.Thestrangeracceptedhisproposalwiththanks,andhastenedtocollecttogethertheplantshehadgathered;butallofasuddenheappearedseizedwithascruple.Heobservedtohiscompanionthattheroadhewasgoingwashalfwayupthehill,andledinthedirectionofthecastleoftheDamesRoyalesatBellevue;thatbygoingtothetophewouldconsequentlyturnoutofhisroad,andthatitwasnotrightheshouldtakethistroubleforastranger.

      Myfatherinsisteduponitwithhishabitualgood-nature;but,themoreeagernessheshowed,themoreobstinatelytheoldmanrefused;itevenseemedtomyfatherthathisgoodintentionatlastexcitedhissuspicion.Hethereforecontentedhimselfwithpointingouttheroadtothestranger,whomhesaluted,andhesoonlostsightofhim.

      Manyhourspassedby,andhethoughtnomoreofthemeeting.HehadreachedthecopsesofChaville,where,stretchedonthegroundinamossyglade,hereadoncemorethelastvolumeofEmile.Thedelightofreadingithadsocompletelyabsorbedhimthathehadceasedtoseeorhearanythingaroundhim.Withhischeeksflushedandhiseyesmoist,herepeatedaloudapassagewhichhadparticularlyaffectedhim.

      Anexclamationutteredclosebyhimawokehimfromhisecstasy;heraisedhishead,andperceivedthetradesman-lookingpersonhehadmetbeforeonthecrossroadatViroflay.

      Hewasloadedwithplants,thecollectionofwhichseemedtohaveputhimintohighgood-humor.

      "Athousandthanks,sir,"saidhetomyfather."Ihavefoundallthatyoutoldmeof,andIamindebtedtoyouforacharmingwalk."

      Myfatherrespectfullyrose,andmadeacivilreply.Thestrangerhadgrownquitefamiliar,andevenaskedifhisyoung"brotherbotanist"didnotthinkofreturningtoParis.Myfatherrepliedintheaffirmative,andopenedhistinboxtoputhisbookbackinit.

      Thestrangeraskedhimwithasmileifhemightwithoutimpertinenceaskthenameofit.MyfatheransweredthatitwasRousseausEmile.

      Thestrangerimmediatelybecamegrave.

      Theywalkedforsometimesidebyside,myfatherexpressing,withthewarmthofaheartstillthrobbingwithemotion,allthatthisworkhadmadehimfeel;hiscompanionremainingcoldandsilent.TheformerextolledthegloryofthegreatGenevesewriter,whosegeniushadmadehimacitizenoftheworld;heexpatiatedonthisprivilegeofgreatthinkers,whoreigninspiteoftimeandspace,andgathertogetherapeopleofwillingsubjectsoutofallnations;butthestrangersuddenlyinterruptedhim:

      "Andhowdoyouknow,"saidhe,mildly,"whetherJeanJacqueswouldnotexchangethereputationwhichyouseemtoenvyforthelifeofoneofthewood-cutterswhosechimneyssmokewesee?Whathasfamebroughthimexceptpersecution?Theunknownfriendswhomhisbooksmayhavemadeforhimcontentthemselveswithblessinghimintheirhearts,whilethedeclaredenemiesthattheyhavedrawnuponhimpursuehimwithviolenceandcalumny!Hispridehasbeenflatteredbysuccess:howmanytimeshasitbeenwoundedbysatire?AndbeassuredthathumanprideisliketheSybaritewhowaspreventedfromsleepingbyacreaseinaroseleaf.Theactivityofavigorousmind,bywhichtheworldprofits,almostalwaysturnsagainsthimwhopossessesit.Heexpectsmorefromitashegrowsolder;theidealhepursuescontinuallydisgustshimwiththeactual;heislikeamanwho,withatoo-refinedsight,discernsspotsandblemishesinthemostbeautifulface.Iwillnotspeakofstrongertemptationsandofdeeperdownfalls.Genius,youhavesaid,isakingdom;butwhatvirtuousmanisnotafraidofbeingaking?Hewhofeelsonlyhisgreatpowers,is——withtheweaknessesandpassionsofournature——preparingforgreatfailures.Believeme,sir,theunhappymanwhowrotethisbookisnoobjectofadmirationorofenvy;but,ifyouhaveafeelingheart,pityhim!"

      Myfather,astonishedattheexcitementwithwhichhiscompanionpronouncedtheselastwords,didnotknowwhattoanswer.

      JustthentheyreachedthepavedroadwhichledfromMeudonCastletothatofVersailles;acarriagewaspassing.

      Theladieswhowereinitperceivedtheoldman,utteredanexclamationofsurprise,andleaningoutofthewindowrepeated:

      "ThereisJeanJacques——thereisRousseau!"

      Thenthecarriagedisappearedinthedistance.

      Myfatherremainedmotionless,confounded,andamazed,hiseyeswideopen,andhishandsclasped.

      Rousseau,whohadshudderedonhearinghisnamespoken,turnedtowardhim:

      "Yousee,"saidhe,withthebittermisanthropywhichhislatermisfortuneshadproducedinhim,"JeanJacquescannotevenhidehimself:

      heisanobjectofcuriositytosome,ofmalignitytoothers,andtoallheisapublicthing,atwhichtheypointthefinger.Itwouldsignifylessifhehadonlytosubmittotheimpertinenceoftheidle;but,assoonasamanhashadthemisfortunetomakehimselfaname,hebecomespublicproperty.Everyonerakesintohislife,relateshismosttrivialactions,andinsultshisfeelings;hebecomeslikethosewalls,whicheverypasser-bymaydefacewithsomeabusivewriting.PerhapsyouwillsaythatIhavemyselfencouragedthiscuriositybypublishingmyConfessions.Buttheworldforcedmetoit.Theylookedintomyhousethroughtheblinds,andtheyslanderedme;Ihaveopenedthedoorsandwindows,sothattheyshouldatleastknowmesuchasIam.Adieu,sir.

      Wheneveryouwishtoknowtheworthoffame,rememberthatyouhaveseenRousseau."

      Nineoclock——Ah!nowIunderstandmyfathersstory!ItcontainstheanswertooneofthequestionsIaskedmyselfaweekago.Yes,Inowfeelthatfameandpoweraregiftsthataredearlybought;andthat,whentheydazzlethesoul,bothareoftenest,asMadamedeStaelsays,butundeuileclatantdebonheur!

      Tisbettertobelowlyborn,Andrangewithhumbleliversincontent,Thantobeperkdupinaglisteringgrief,Andwearagoldensorrow.

      [HenryVIII.,ActII.,Scene3.]