In truth, Bishop, I tell you that I have a
philosophy of my own, and I have my philosophers.
I don't let
myself be taken in with that nonsense.
Of course,
there must be something for those who are down,--for the barefooted beggars,
knife-grinders, and miserable wretches.
Legends,
chimeras, the soul, immortality, paradise, the stars, are provided for them to
swallow. They gobble it down.
God.
That is the
least he can have.
I oppose no
objection to that; but I reserve Monsieur Naigeon for myself.
The good God
is good for the populace."
The Bishop
clapped his hands.
"That's
talking!" he exclaimed.
"What
an excellent and really marvellous thing is this materialism!
Not every
one who wants it can have it.
Ah! when one
does have it, one is no longer a dupe, one does not stupidly allow one's self
to be exiled like Cato, nor stoned like Stephen, nor burned alive like Jeanne
d'Arc. Those who have succeeded in procuring this admirable materialism have
the joy of feeling themselves irresponsible, and of thinking that they can
devour everything without uneasiness,--places, sinecures, dignities, power,
whether well or ill acquired, lucrative recantations, useful treacheries,
savory capitulations of conscience,--and that they shall enter the tomb with
their digestion accomplished.
How
agreeable that is! I do not say that with reference to you, senator.
Nevertheless,
it is impossible for me to refrain from congratulating you.
You great
lords have, so you say, a philosophy of your own, and for yourselves, which is
exquisite, refined, accessible to the rich alone, good for all sauces, and
which seasons the voluptuousness of life admirably.
This
philosophy has been extracted from the depths, and unearthed by special
seekers.
But you are
good-natured princes, and you do not think it a bad thing that belief in the
good God should constitute the philosophy of the people, very much as the goose
stuffed with chestnuts is the truffled turkey of the poor."
No comments:
Post a Comment