第5章

atleastforamouthorsixweeks；attheendofwhich，ifheisaharmlessfellow，hisinnocenceappears，andhecomesoutabetterandwisermanthanhewentin。

Ihadsomeoccasion(Iforgetwhat)tostepintothecourt-yard，asIsettledthisaccount；andrememberIwalk"ddownstairsinnosmalltriumphwiththeconceitofmyreasoning-Beshrewthesombrepencil!saidI，vauntingly-forIenvynotitspowers，whichpaintstheevilsoflifewithsohardanddeadlyacolouring。

Themindsitsterrifiedattheobjectsshehasmagnifiedherself，andblackened:reducethemtotheirpropersizeandhue，sheoverlooksthem-"Tistrue，saidI，correctingtheproposition，-

theBastileisnotaneviltobedespised；-butstripitofitstowers-fillupthefosse，-unbarricadethedoors-callitsimplyaconfinement，andsuppose"tissometyrantofadistemper-

andnotofaman，whichholdsyouinit，-theevilvanishes，andyoubeartheotherhalfwithoutcomplaint。

Iwasinterruptedintheheydayofthissoliloquy，withavoicewhichItooktobeofachild，whichcomplained"itcouldnotgetout。"-Ilook"dupanddownthepassage，andseeingneitherman，woman，norchild，Iwentoutwithoutfartherattention。

Inmyreturnbackthroughthepassage，Iheardthesamewordsrepeatedtwiceover；and，lookingup，Isawitwasastarlinghunginalittlecage-"Ican"tgetout，-Ican"tgetout，"saidthestarling。

Istoodlookingatthebird:andtoeverypersonwhocamethroughthepassageitranflutteringtothesidetowardswhichtheyapproach"dit，withthesamelamentationofitscaptivity。"I

can"tgetout，"saidthestarling-Godhelpthee!saidI，butI"lllettheeout，costwhatitwill；soIturnedaboutthecagetogettothedoor:itwastwistedanddoubletwistedsofastwithwire，therewasnogettingitopenwithoutpullingthecagetopieces-Itookbothhandstoit。

ThebirdflewtotheplacewhereIwasattemptinghisdeliverance，andthrustinghisheadthroughthetrellispressedhisbreastagainstitasifimpatient-Ifear，poorcreature!saidI，I

cannotsettheeatliberty-"No，"saidthestarling，-"Ican"tgetout-Ican"tgetout，"saidthestarling。

IvowIneverhadmyaffectionsmoretenderlyawakened；nordoI

rememberanincidentinmylife，wherethedissipatedspirits，towhichmyreasonhadbeenabubble，weresosuddenlycall"dhome。

Mechanicalasthenoteswere，yetsotrueintunetonatureweretheychanted，thatinonemomenttheyoverthrewallmysystematicreasoningsupontheBastile；andIheavilywalkedupstairs，unsayingeverywordIhadsaidingoingdownthem。

Disguisethyselfasthouwilt，still，Slavery!saidI，-stillthouartabitterdraught!andthoughthousandsinallageshavebeenmadetodrinkofthee，thouartnolessbitteronthataccount-

"Tisthou，thricesweetandgraciousgoddess，addressingmyselftoLiberty，whomallinpublicorinprivateworship，whosetasteisgrateful，andeverwillbeso，tillNatureherselfshallchange-

NoTINTofwordscanspotthysnowymantle，orchymicpowerturnthysceptreintoiron:-withtheetosmileuponhimasheeatshiscrust，theswainishappierthanhismonarch，fromwhosecourtthouartexiled!-GraciousHeaven!criedI，kneelingdownuponthelaststepbutoneinmyascent，grantmebuthealth，thougreatBestowerofit，andgivemebutthisfairgoddessasmycompanion，-andshowerdownthymitres，ifitseemsgooduntothydivineprovidence，uponthoseheadswhichareachingforthem!

THECAPTIVE。PARIS。

THEbirdinhiscagepursuedmeintomyroom；Isatdownclosetomytable，andleaningmyheaduponmyhand，Ibegantofiguretomyselfthemiseriesofconfinement。Iwasinarightframeforit，andsoIgavefullscopetomyimagination。

Iwasgoingtobeginwiththemillionsofmyfellow-creaturesborntonoinheritancebutslavery:butfinding，howeveraffectingthepicturewas，thatIcouldnotbringitnearme，andthatthemultitudeofsadgroupsinitdidbutdistractme——

Itookasinglecaptive，andhavingfirstshuthimupinhisdungeon，Ithenlook"dthroughthetwilightofhisgrateddoortotakehispicture。

Ibeheldhisbodyhalf-wastedawaywithlongexpectationandconfinement，andfeltwhatkindofsicknessoftheheartitwaswhicharisesfromhopedeferr"d。UponlookingnearerIsawhimpaleandfeverish:inthirtyyearsthewesternbreezehadnotoncefann"dhisblood；-hehadseennosun，nomoon，inallthattime-

norhadthevoiceoffriendorkinsmanbreathedthroughhislattice-Hischildren-

Butheremyheartbegantobleed-andIwasforcedtogoonwithanotherpartoftheportrait。

Hewassittinguponthegrounduponalittlestraw，inthefurthestcornerofhisdungeon，whichwasalternatelyhischairandbed:alittlecalendarofsmallstickswerelaidatthehead，notch"dalloverwiththedismaldaysandnightshehadpassedthere；-hehadoneoftheselittlesticksinhishand，and，witharustynailhewasetchinganotherdayofmiserytoaddtotheheap。AsI

darkenedthelittlelighthehad，heliftedupahopelesseyetowardsthedoor，thencastitdown，-shookhishead，andwentonwithhisworkofaffliction。Iheardhischainsuponhislegs，asheturnedhisbodytolayhislittlestickuponthebundle-Hegaveadeepsigh-Isawtheironenterintohissoul!-Iburstintotears-Icouldnotsustainthepictureofconfinementwhichmyfancyhaddrawn-Istartedupfrommychair，andcallingLaFleur:Ibidhimbespeakmearemise，andhaveitreadyatthedoorofthehotelbynineinthemorning。

I"llgodirectly，saidI，myselftoMonsieurleDucdeChoiseul。

LaFleurwouldhaveputmetobed；but-notwillingheshouldseeanythinguponmycheekwhichwouldcostthehonestfellowaheart-

ache，-ItoldhimIwouldgotobedbymyself，-andbidhimgodothesame。

THESTARLING。ROADTOVERSAILLES。

IGOTintomyremisethehourIproposed:LaFleurgotupbehind，andIbidthecoachmanmakethebestofhiswaytoVersailles。

Astherewasnothinginthisroad，orrathernothingwhichIlookforintravelling，Icannotfilluptheblankbetterthanwithashorthistoryofthisself-samebird，whichbecamethesubjectofthelastchapter。

WhilsttheHonourableMr-waswaitingforawindatDover，ithadbeencaughtuponthecliffs，beforeitcouldwellfly，byanEnglishladwhowashisgroom；who，notcaringtodestroyit，hadtakenitinhisbreastintothepacket；-and，bycourseoffeedingit，andtakingitonceunderhisprotection，inadayortwogrewfondofit，andgotitsafealongwithhimtoParis。

AtParistheladhadlaidoutalivreinalittlecageforthestarling，andashehadlittletodobetterthefivemonthshismasterstaidthere，hetaughtit，inhismother"stongue，thefoursimplewords-(andnomore)-towhichIown"dmyselfsomuchitsdebtor。

Uponhismaster"sgoingonforItaly，theladhadgivenittothemasterofthehotel。ButhislittlesongforlibertybeinginanUNKNOWNlanguageatParis，thebirdhadlittleornostoresetbyhim:soLaFleurboughtbothhimandhiscageformeforabottleofBurgundy。

InmyreturnfromItalyIbroughthimwithmetothecountryinwhoselanguagehehadlearnedhisnotes；andtellingthestoryofhimtoLordA-，LordA-begg"dthebirdofme；-inaweekLordA-

gavehimtoLordB-；LordB-madeapresentofhimtoLordC-；andLordC-"sgentlemansoldhimtoLordD-"sforashilling；LordD-

gavehimtoLordE-；andsoon-halfroundthealphabet。Fromthatrankhepass"dintothelowerhouse，andpass"dthehandsofasmanycommoners。ButasallthesewantedtoGETIN，andmybirdwantedtoGETOUT，hehadalmostaslittlestoresetbyhiminLondonasinParis。

Itisimpossiblebutmanyofmyreadersmusthaveheardofhim；andifanybymerechancehaveeverseenhim，Ibegleavetoinformthem，thatthatbirdwasmybird，orsomevilecopysetuptorepresenthim。

Ihavenothingfarthertoadduponhim，butthatfromthattimetothisIhavebornethispoorstarlingasthecresttomyarms-

Thus:

[Picturewhichcannotbereproduced]-

Andlettheherald"sofficerstwisthisneckaboutiftheydare。

THEADDRESS。VERSAILLES。

ISHOULDnotliketohavemyenemytakeaviewofmymindwhenIamgoingtoaskprotectionofanyman；forwhichreasonIgenerallyendeavourtoprotectmyself；butthisgoingtoMonsieurleDucdeC-wasanactofcompulsion；haditbeenanactofchoice，Ishouldhavedoneit，Isuppose，likeotherpeople。

Howmanymeanplansofdirtyaddress，asIwentalong，didmyservileheartform!IdeservedtheBastileforeveryoneofthem。

ThennothingwouldservemewhenIgotwithinsightofVersailles，butputtingwordsandsentencestogether，andconceivingattitudesandtonestowreathmyselfintoMonsieurleDucdeC-"sgoodgraces-Thiswilldo，saidI-Justaswell，retortedIagain，asacoatcarrieduptohimbyanadventuroustailor，withouttakinghismeasure。Fool!continuedI，-seeMonsieurleDuc"sfacefirst；-observewhatcharacteriswritteninit；-takenoticeinwhatposturehestandstohearyou；-marktheturnsandexpressionsofhisbodyandlimbs；-andforthetone，-thefirstsoundwhichcomesfromhislipswillgiveityou；andfromallthesetogetheryou"llcompoundanaddressatonceuponthespot，whichcannotdisgusttheDuke；-theingredientsarehisown，andmostlikelytogodown。

Well!saidI，Iwishitwellover-Cowardagain!asifmantomanwasnotequalthroughoutthewholesurfaceoftheglobe；andifinthefield-whynotfacetofaceinthecabinettoo?Andtrustme，Yorick，wheneveritisnotso，manisfalsetohimselfandbetrayshisownsuccourstentimeswherenaturedoesitonce。GototheDucdeC-withtheBastileinthylooks；-mylifeforit，thouwiltbesentbacktoParisinhalfanhourwithanescort。

Ibelieveso，saidI-ThenI"llgototheDuke，byheaven!withallthegaietyanddebonairnessintheworld——

Andthereyouarewrongagain，repliedI-Aheartatease，Yorick，fliesintonoextremes-"tiseveronitscentre-Well!

well!criedI，asthecoachmanturn"dinatthegates，IfindI

shalldoverywell:andbythetimehehadwheel"droundthecourt，andbroughtmeuptothedoor，Ifoundmyselfsomuchthebetterformyownlecture，thatIneitherascendedthestepslikeavictimtojustice，whowastopartwithlifeuponthetopmost，-nordidImountthemwithaskipandacoupleofstrides，asIdowhenI

flyup，Eliza!totheetomeetit。

AsIenteredthedoorofthesaloonIwasmetbyaperson，whopossiblymightbetheMAITRED"HOTEL，buthadmoretheairofoneoftheundersecretaries，whotoldmetheDucdeC-wasbusy-I

amutterlyignorant，saidI，oftheformsofobtaininganaudience，beinganabsolutestranger，andwhatisworseinthepresentconjunctureofaffairs，beinganEnglishmantoo-Hereplied，thatdidnotincreasethedifficulty-Imadehimaslightbow，andtoldhim，IhadsomethingofimportancetosaytoMonsieurleDuc。

Thesecretarylook"dtowardsthestairs，asifhewasabouttoleavemetocarryupthisaccounttosomeone-ButImustnotmisleadyou，saidI，-forwhatIhavetosayisofnomannerofimportancetoMonsieurleDucdeC——butofgreatimportancetomyself-C"ESTUNEAUTREAFFAIRE，repliedhe-Notatall，saidI，toamanofgallantry-Butpray，goodsir，continuedI，whencanastrangerhopetohaveaccess?-Innotlessthantwohours，saidhe，lookingathiswatch。Thenumberofequipagesinthecourt-yardseemedtojustifythecalculation，thatIcouldhavenoneareraprospect；-andaswalkingbackwardsandforwardsinthesaloon，withoutasoultocommunewith，wasforthetimeasbadasbeingintheBastileitself，Iinstantlywentbacktomyremise，andbidthecoachmandrivemetotheCORDONBLEU，whichwasthenearesthotel。

Ithinkthereisafatalityinit；-IseldomgototheplaceIsetoutfor。

LEPATISSIER。VERSAILLES。

BEFOREIhadgothalfwaydownthestreetIchangedmymind:asI

amatVersailles，thoughtI，Imightaswelltakeaviewofthetown；soIpull"dthecord，andorderedthecoachmantodriveroundsomeoftheprincipalstreets-Isupposethetownisnotverylarge，saidI-Thecoachmanbegg"dpardonforsettingmeright，andtoldmeitwasverysuperb，andthatnumbersofthefirstdukesandmarquisesandcountshadhotels-TheCountdeB-，ofwhomthebooksellerattheQuaideContihadspokesohandsomelythenightbefore，cameinstantlyintomymind-AndwhyshouldInotgo，thoughtI，totheCountdeB-，whohassohighanideaofEnglishbooksandEnglishmen-andtellhimmystory?soIchangedmymindasecondtime-Intruthitwasthethird；forIhadintendedthatdayforMadamedeR-，intheRueSt。Pierre，andhaddevoutlysentherwordbyherFILLEDECHAMBREthatIwouldassuredlywaituponher；-butIamgovernedbycircumstances；-Icannotgovernthem:

soseeingamanstandingwithabasketontheothersideofthestreet，asifhehadsomethingtosell，IbidLaFleurgouptohim，andenquirefortheCount"shotel。

LaFleurreturnedalittlepale；andtoldmeitwasaChevalierdeSt。Louissellingpates-Itisimpossible，LaFleur，saidI-LaFleurcouldnomoreaccountforthephenomenonthanmyself；butpersistedinhisstory:hehadseenthecroixsetingold，withitsredriband，hesaid，tiedtohisbuttonhole-andhadlookedintothebasketandseenthepateswhichtheChevalierwasselling；socouldnotbemistakeninthat。

Suchareverseinman"slifeawakensabetterprinciplethancuriosity:IcouldnothelplookingforsometimeathimasIsatintheremise:-themoreIlook"dathim，hiscroix，andhisbasket，thestrongertheywovethemselvesintomybrain-Igotoutoftheremise，andwenttowardshim。

Hewasbegirtwithacleanlinenapronwhichfellbelowhisknees，andwithasortofabibthatwenthalfwayuphisbreast；uponthetopofthis，butalittlebelowthehem，hunghiscroix。Hisbasketoflittlepateswascoveredoverwithawhitedamasknapkin；

anotherofthesamekindwasspreadatthebottom；andtherewasalookofPROPRETEandneatnessthroughout，thatonemighthaveboughthispatesofhim，asmuchfromappetiteassentiment。

Hemadeanofferofthemtoneither；butstoodstillwiththematthecornerofanhotel，forthosetobuywhochoseitwithoutsolicitation。

Hewasaboutforty-eight；-ofasedatelook，somethingapproachingtogravity。Ididnotwonder-Iwentuprathertothebasketthanhim，andhavingliftedupthenapkin，andtakingoneofhispatesintomyhand，-Ibegg"dhewouldexplaintheappearancewhichaffectedme。

Hetoldmeinafewwords，thatthebestpartofhislifehadpassedintheservice，inwhich，afterspendingasmallpatrimony，hehadobtainedacompanyandthecroixwithit；butthat，attheconclusionofthelastpeace，hisregimentbeingreformed，andthewholecorps，withthoseofsomeotherregiments，leftwithoutanyprovision，hefoundhimselfinawideworldwithoutfriends，withoutalivre，-andindeed，saidhe，withoutanythingbutthis，-(pointing，ashesaidit，tohiscroix)-ThepoorChevalierwonmypity，andhefinishedthescenewithwinningmyesteemtoo。

Theking，hesaid，wasthemostgenerousofprinces，buthisgenerositycouldneitherrelievenorrewardeveryone，anditwasonlyhismisfortunetobeamongstthenumber。Hehadalittlewife，hesaid，whomheloved，whodidthePATISSERIE；andadded，hefeltnodishonourindefendingherandhimselffromwantinthisway-unlessProvidencehadoffer"dhimabetter。

Itwouldbewickedtowithholdapleasurefromthegood，inpassingoverwhathappen"dtothispoorChevalierofSt。Louisaboutninemonthsafter。

Itseemsheusuallytookhisstandneartheirongateswhichleaduptothepalace，andashiscroixhadcaughttheeyesofnumbers，numbershadmadethesameenquirywhichIhaddone-Hehadtoldthemthesamestory，andalwayswithsomuchmodestyandgoodsense，thatithadreach"datlasttheking"sears；-who，hearingtheChevalierhadbeenagallantofficer，andrespectedbythewholeregimentasamanofhonourandintegrity，-hebrokeuphislittletradebyapensionoffifteenhundredlivresayear。

AsIhavetoldthistopleasethereader，Ibeghewillallowmetorelateanother，outofitsorder，topleasemyself:-thetwostoriesreflectlightuponeachother，-and"tisapitytheyshouldbeparted。

THESWORD。RENNES。

WHENstatesandempireshavetheirperiodsofdeclension，andfeelintheirturnswhatdistressandpovertyis，-Istopnottotellthecauseswhichgraduallybroughtthehoused"E-，inBrittany，intodecay。TheMarquisd"E-hadfoughtupagainsthisconditionwithgreatfirmness；wishingtopreserve，andstillshowtotheworld，somelittlefragmentsofwhathisancestorshadbeen；-

theirindiscretionshadputitoutofhispower。TherewasenoughleftforthelittleexigenciesofOBSCURITY-ButhehadtwoboyswholookeduptohimforLIGHT；-hethoughttheydeservedit。Hehadtriedhissword-itcouldnotopentheway，-theMOUNTINGwastooexpensive，-andsimpleeconomywasnotamatchforit:-therewasnoresourcebutcommerce。

InanyotherprovinceinFrance，saveBrittany，thiswassmitingtherootforeverofthelittletreehisprideandaffectionwish"dtoseere-blossom-ButinBrittany，therebeingaprovisionforthis，heavail"dhimselfofit；and，takinganoccasionwhenthestateswereassembledatRennes，theMarquis，attendedwithhistwoboys，enteredthecourt；andhavingpleadedtherightofanancientlawoftheduchy，which，thoughseldomclaim"d，hesaid，wasnolessinforce，hetookhisswordfromhisside:-Here，saidhe，takeit；andbetrustyguardiansofit，tillbettertimesputmeinconditiontoreclaimit。

ThepresidentacceptedtheMarquis"ssword:hestaidafewminutestoseeitdepositedinthearchivesofhishouse-anddeparted。

TheMarquisandhiswholefamilyembarkedthenextclayforMartinico，andinaboutnineteenortwentyyearsofsuccessfulapplicationtobusiness，withsomeunlook"dforbequestsfromdistantbranchesofhishouse，returnhometoreclaimhisnobility，andtosupportit。

ItwasanincidentofgoodfortunewhichwillneverhappentoanytravellerbutaSentimentalone，thatIshouldbeatRennesattheverytimeofthissolemnrequisition:Icallitsolemn；-itwassotome。

TheMarquisenteredthecourtwithhiswholefamily:hesupportedhislady，-hiseldestsonsupportedhissister，andhisyoungestwasattheotherextremeofthelinenexthismother；-heputhishandkerchieftohisfacetwice——

Therewasadeadsilence。WhentheMarquishadapproachedwithinsixpacesofthetribunal，hegavetheMarchionesstohisyoungestson，andadvancingthreestepsbeforehisfamily，-hereclaim"dhissword。Hisswordwasgivenhim，andthemomenthegotitintohishandhedrewitalmostoutofthescabbard:-"twastheshiningfaceofafriendhehadoncegivenup-helook"dattentivelyalongit，beginningatthehilt，asiftoseewhetheritwasthesame，-

when，observingalittlerustwhichithadcontractednearthepoint，hebroughtitnearhiseye，andbendinghisheaddownoverit，-Ithink-Isawatearfallupontheplace。Icouldnotbedeceivedbywhatfollowed。

"Ishallfind，"saidhe，"someOTHERWAYtogetitoff。"

WhentheMarquishadsaidthis，hereturnedhisswordintoitsscabbard，madeabowtotheguardiansofit，-and，withhiswifeanddaughter，andhistwosonsfollowinghim，walk"dout。

O，howIenviedhimhisfeelings!

THEPASSPORT。VERSAILLES。

IFOUNDnodifficultyingettingadmittancetoMonsieurleCountdeB。ThesetofShakespeareswaslaiduponthetable，andhewastumblingthemover。Iwalk"dupclosetothetable，andgivingfirstsuchalookatthebooksastomakehimconceiveIknewwhattheywere，-ItoldhimIhadcomewithoutanyonetopresentme，knowingIshouldmeetwithafriendinhisapartment，who，I

trusted，woulddoitforme:-itismycountryman，thegreatShakespeare，saidI，pointingtohisworks-ETAYEZLABOUTE，MON

CHERAMI，apostrophizinghisspirit，addedI，DEMEFAIRECET

HONNEUR-LE-

TheCountsmiledatthesingularityoftheintroduction；andseeingIlook"dalittlepaleandsickly，insisteduponmytakinganarm-

chair；soIsatdown；andtosavehimconjecturesuponavisitsooutofallrule，Itoldhimsimplyoftheincidentinthebookseller"sshop，andhowthathadimpelledmerathertogotohimwiththestoryofalittleembarrassmentIwasunder，thantoanyothermaninFrance-Andwhatisyourembarrassment?letmehearit，saidtheCount。SoItoldhimthestoryjustasIhavetolditthereader-

Andthemasterofmyhotel，saidI，asIconcludedit，willneedshaveit，MonsieurleCount，thatIshallbesenttotheBastile；-

butIhavenoapprehensions，continuedI；-for，infallingintothehandsofthemostpolish"dpeopleintheworld，andbeingconsciousIwasatrueman，andnotcometospythenakednessoftheland，IscarcethoughtIlayattheirmercy-ItdoesnotsuitthegallantryoftheFrench，MonsieurleCount，saidI，toshowitagainstinvalids。

AnanimatedblushcameintotheCountdeB-"scheeksasIspokethis-NECRAIGNEZRIEN-Don"tfear，saidhe-Indeed，Idon"t，repliedIagain-Besides，continuedI，alittlesportingly，I

havecomelaughingallthewayfromLondontoParis，andIdonotthinkMonsieurleDucdeChoiseulissuchanenemytomirthastosendmebackcryingformypains-

Myapplicationtoyou，MonsieurleCountdeB-(makinghimalowbow)，istodesirehewillnot。

TheCountheardmewithgreatgoodnature，orIhadnotsaidhalfasmuch，-andonceortwicesaid，-C"ESTBIENDIT。SoIrestedmycausethere-anddeterminedtosaynomoreaboutit。

TheCountledthediscourse:wetalk"dofindifferentthings，-ofbooks，andpolitics，andmen；-andthenofwomen-Godblessthemall!saidI，aftermuchdiscourseaboutthem-thereisnotamanuponearthwholovesthemsomuchasIdo:afterallthefoiblesI

haveseen，andallthesatiresIhavereadagainstthem，stillI

lovethem；beingfirmlypersuadedthataman，whohasnotasortofaffectionforthewholesex，isincapableofeverlovingasingleoneasheought。

EHBIEN!MONSIEURL"ANGLOIS，saidtheCount，gaily；-youarenotcometospythenakednessoftheland；-Ibelieveyou；-NI

ENCORE，Idaresay，THATofourwomen!-Butpermitmetoconjecture，-if，PARHAZARD，theyfellintoyourway，thattheprospectwouldnotaffectyou。

Ihavesomethingwithinmewhichcannotbeartheshockoftheleastindecentinsinuation:inthesportabilityofchit-chatIhaveoftenendeavouredtoconquerit，andwithinfinitepainhavehazardedathousandthingstoadozenofthesextogether，-theleastofwhichIcouldnotventuretoasingleonetogainheaven。

Excuseme，MonsieurleCount，saidI；-asforthenakednessofyourland，ifIsawit，Ishouldcastmyeyesoveritwithtearsinthem；-andforthatofyourwomen(blushingattheideahehadexcitedinme)Iamsoevangelicalinthis，andhavesuchafellow-

feelingforwhateverisweakaboutthem，thatIwouldcoveritwithagarmentifIknewhowtothrowiton:-ButIcouldwish，continuedI，tospythenakednessoftheirhearts，andthroughthedifferentdisguisesofcustoms，climates，andreligion，findoutwhatisgoodinthemtofashionmyownby:-andthereforeamI

come。

Itisforthisreason，MonsieurleCount，continuedI，thatIhavenotseenthePalaisRoyal，-northeLuxembourg，-northeFacadeoftheLouvre，-norhaveattemptedtoswellthecatalogueswehaveofpictures，statues，andchurches-Iconceiveeveryfairbeingasatemple，andwouldratherenterin，andseetheoriginaldrawingsandloosesketcheshungupinit，thantheTransfigurationofRaphaelitself。

Thethirstofthis，continuedI，asimpatientasthatwhichinflamesthebreastoftheconnoisseur，hasledmefrommyownhomeintoFrance，-andfromFrancewillleadmethroughItaly；-"tisaquietjourneyoftheheartinpursuitofNature，andthoseaffectionswhichariseoutofher，whichmakeusloveeachother，-

andtheworld，betterthanwedo。

TheCountsaidagreatmanycivilthingstomeupontheoccasion；

andaddedverypolitely，howmuchhestoodobligedtoShakespeareformakingmeknowntohim-ButAPROPOS，saidhe；-Shakespeareisfullofgreatthings；-heforgotasmallpunctilioofannouncingyourname:-itputsyouunderanecessityofdoingityourself。

THEPASSPORT。VERSAILLES。

THEREisnotamoreperplexingaffairinlifetome，thantosetabouttellinganyonewhoIam，-forthereisscarceanybodyI

cannotgiveabetteraccountofthanmyself；andIhaveoftenwishedIcoulddoitinasingleword，-andhaveanendofit。ItwastheonlytimeandoccasioninmylifeIcouldaccomplishthistoanypurpose；-forShakespearelyinguponthetable，andrecollectingIwasinhisbooks，ItookupHamlet，andturningimmediatelytothegrave-diggers"sceneinthefifthact，IlaidmyfingeruponYorick，andadvancingthebooktotheCount，withmyfingerallthewayoverthename，-MEVOICI!saidI。

Now，whethertheideaofpoorYorick"sskullwasputoutoftheCount"smindbytherealityofmyown，orbywhatmagichecoulddropaperiodofsevenoreighthundredyears，makesnothinginthisaccount；-"tiscertaintheFrenchconceivebetterthantheycombine；-Iwonderatnothinginthisworld，andthelessatthis；

inasmuchasoneofthefirstofourownChurch，forwhosecandourandpaternalsentimentsIhavethehighestveneration，fellintothesamemistakeintheverysamecase:-"Hecouldnotbear，"hesaid，"tolookintothesermonswrotebytheKingofDenmark"sjester。"Good，myLordsaidI；buttherearetwoYoricks。TheYorickyourLordshipthinksof，hasbeendeadandburiedeighthundredyearsago；heflourishedinHorwendillus"scourt；-theotherYorickismyself，whohaveflourished，myLord，innocourt-

Heshookhishead。GoodGod!saidI，youmightaswellconfoundAlexandertheGreatwithAlexandertheCoppersmith，mylord!-

""Twasallone，"hereplied——

IfAlexander，KingofMacedon，couldhavetranslatedyourLordship，saidI，I"msureyourLordshipwouldnothavesaidso。

ThepoorCountdeB-fellbutintothesameERROR-

ET，MONSIEUR，EST-ILYORICK?criedtheCount-JELESUIS，saidI-VOUS?-MOI，-MOIQUIAIL"HONNEURDEVOUSPARLER，MONSIEUR

LECOMTE-MONDIEU!saidhe，embracingme，-VOUSETESYORICK!

TheCountinstantlyputtheShakespeareintohispocket，andleftmealoneinhisroom。

THEPASSPORT。VERSAILLES。

ICOULDnotconceivewhytheCountdeB-hadgonesoabruptlyoutoftheroom，anymorethanIcouldconceivewhyhehadputtheShakespeareintohispocket-

MYSTERIESWHICHMUSTEXPLAINTHEMSELVESARENOTWORTHTHELOSSOF

TIMEWHICHACONJECTUREABOUTTHEMTAKESUP:"twasbettertoreadShakespeare；sotakingup"MUCHADOABOUTNOTHING，"ItransportedmyselfinstantlyfromthechairIsatintoMessinainSicily，andgotsobusywithDonPedro，andBenedict，andBeatrice，thatI

thoughtnotofVersailles，theCount，orthepassport。

Sweetpliabilityofman"sspirit，thatcanatoncesurrenderitselftoillusions，whichcheatexpectationandsorrowoftheirwearymoments!-Long，-longsincehadyenumber"doutmydays，hadI

nottrodsogreatapartofthemuponthisenchantedground。Whenmywayistooroughformyfeet，ortoosteepformystrength，I

getoffit，tosomesmoothvelvetpath，whichFancyhasscatteredoverwithrosebudsofdelights；andhavingtakenafewturnsinit，comebackstrengthenedandrefresh"d-Whenevilspresssoreuponme，andthereisnoretreatfromtheminthisworld，thenItakeanewcourse；-Ileaveit，-andasIhaveaclearerideaoftheElysianfieldsthanIhaveofheaven，Iforcemyself，likeAEneas，intothem-IseehimmeetthepensiveshadeofhisforsakenDido，andwishtorecogniseit；-Iseetheinjuredspiritwaveherhead，andturnoffsilentfromtheauthorofhermiseriesanddishonours；-

Ilosethefeelingsformyselfinhers，andinthoseaffectionswhichwerewonttomakememournforherwhenIwasatschool。

SURELYTHISISNOTWALKINGINAVAINSHADOW-NORDOESMANDISQUIET

HIMSELFinvainBYIT:-heoftenerdoessointrustingtheissueofhiscommotionstoreasononly-Icansafelysayformyself，Iwasneverabletoconqueranyonesinglebadsensationinmyheartsodecisively，asbeatingupasfastasIcouldforsomekindlyandgentlesensationtofightituponitsowngroundWhenIhadgottotheendofthethirdacttheCountdeB-entered，withmypassportinhishand。MonsieurleDucdeC-，saidtheCount，isasgoodaprophet，Idaresay，asheisastatesman。UN

HOMMEQUIRIT，saidtheDuke，NESERAJAMAISDANGEREUX-Haditbeenforanyonebuttheking"sjester，addedtheCount，Icouldnothavegotitthesetwohours-PARDONNEZMOI，MonsieurleCount，saidI-Iamnottheking"sjester-ButyouareYorick?-

Yes-ETVOUSPLAISANTEZ?-Ianswered，IndeedIdidjest，-butwasnotpaidforit；-"twasentirelyatmyownexpense。

Wehavenojesteratcourt，MonsieurleCount，saidI；thelastwehadwasinthelicentiousreignofCharlesII。；-sincewhichtimeourmannershavebeensograduallyrefining，thatourcourtatpresentissofullofpatriots，whowishforNOTHINGbutthehonoursandwealthoftheircountry；-andourladiesareallsochaste，sospotless，sogood，sodevout，-thereisnothingforajestertomakeajestof-

VOILAUNPERSIFLAGE!criedtheCount。

THEPASSPORT。VERSAILLES。

ASthepassportwasdirectedtoalllieutenant-governors，governors，andcommandantsofcities，generalsofarmies，justiciaries，andallofficersofjustice，toletMr。Yoricktheking"sjester，andhisbaggage，travelquietlyalong，Iownthetriumphofobtainingthepassportwasnotalittletarnish"dbythefigureIcutinit-Butthereisnothingunmix"dinthisworld；