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diff --git a/old/60914-h/60914-h.htm b/old/60914-h/60914-h.htm deleted file mode 100644 index 828d032..0000000 --- a/old/60914-h/60914-h.htm +++ /dev/null @@ -1,3324 +0,0 @@ -<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" - "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> -<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> - <head> - <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> - <meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /> - <title> - The Project Gutenberg eBook of Prometheus Illbound, by André Gide. - </title> -<link rel="coverpage" href="images/cover.jpg" /> - <style type="text/css"> - -body { - margin-left: 10%; - margin-right: 10%; -} - - h1,h2,h3,h4,h5 { - text-align: center; - clear: both; -} - -p { - margin-top: .51em; - text-align: justify; - margin-bottom: .49em; -} - -div.chapter {page-break-before: always;} -h2.nobreak {page-break-before: avoid;} - -div.titlepage {text-align: center; page-break-before: always; page-break-after: always;} -div.titlepage p {text-align: center; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.5; margin-top: 2em;} - - -hr { - width: 33%; - margin-top: 2em; - margin-bottom: 2em; - margin-left: 33.5%; - margin-right: 33.5%; - clear: both; -} - -hr.chap {width: 65%; margin-left: 17.5%; margin-right: 17.5%;} -hr.tb {width: 45%; margin-left: 27.5%; margin-right: 27.5%;} - - -table { - margin-left: auto; - margin-right: auto; -} - - .tdr {text-align: right;} - - -.pagenum { - position: absolute; - left: 92%; - font-size: smaller; - text-align: right; -} - -.center {text-align: center;} - -.right {text-align: right;} - -.smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} - -.figcenter { - margin: auto; - text-align: center; -} - -.xxlarge {font-size: 150%;} -.xlarge {font-size: 125%;} - -.ph1 {text-align: center; font-size:xx-large; font-weight: bold;} -.ph2 {text-align: center; font-size:large; font-weight: bold;} -.gapleft {padding-left: 10em;} -.gapleft2 {padding-left: 20em;} - - - - - -.transnote {background-color: #E6E6FA; - color: black; - font-size:smaller; - padding:0.5em; - margin-bottom:5em; - font-family:sans-serif, serif; } - </style> - </head> -<body> - - -<pre> - -The Project Gutenberg EBook of Prometheus Illbound, by André Gide - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and -most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms -of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll -have to check the laws of the country where you are located before using -this ebook. - - - -Title: Prometheus Illbound - -Author: André Gide - -Translator: Lilian Rothermere - -Release Date: December 13, 2019 [EBook #60914] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PROMETHEUS ILLBOUND *** - - - - -Produced by Tim Lindell, David E. Brown, and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This -book was produced from images made available by the -HathiTrust Digital Library.) - - - - - - -</pre> - - -<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/cover.jpg" alt="" /></div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="figcenter"><img src="images/i_title.jpg" alt="" /></div> - -<hr class="tb" /> -<div class="titlepage"> - -<h1>PROMETHEUS<br /> -ILLBOUND</h1> - -<p><span class="xxlarge"><span class="smcap">By</span> ANDRÉ GIDE</span></p> - - -<p>LITERAL TRANSLATION FROM THE<br /> -FRENCH BY<br /> -<span class="xlarge">LILIAN ROTHERMERE</span></p> - - -<p>LONDON<br /> -<span class="xlarge">CHATTO AND WINDUS</span><br /> -1919</p> -</div> - -<hr class="chap" /> - - - - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[5]</a></span> -<h2 class="nobreak">PREFACE</h2></div> - - -<p><span class="smcap">The</span> work of art is the exaggeration of an -idea, says Gide in the epilogue of the -“Prometheus Illbound.” This is really the -explanation of the whole book and of many -other books of Gide.</p> - -<p>His world is a world of abstract ideas, -under the action of which most of his -characters move as marionettes. “Time -and space are the boards, which, with the -help of our minds, have been set up by the -innumerable truths of the universe as a stage -for their own performances. And there we -play our parts like determined, convinced, -devoted and voluptuous marionettes.”</p> - -<p>That is the reason why there is a determinist -atmosphere in his books and that even -the disinterested act appears as the reaction<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[6]</a></span> -of the mind on its own concept. Zeus, the -banker, poses this disinterested act because -his thought refuses or hesitates to admit -it; the same thing happens with Lafcadio in -the “Caves du Vatican” when he is on the -point of murdering Amédée Fleurissoire.</p> - -<p>The tyranny of ideas is the dominating -force of his characters. Even his first -writings—where one finds some of his best -pages, which appear to be purely lyrical -explosion—such as “Les Nourritures Terrestres” -and “Le Voyage d’Urien,” are -really the songs of a mind which leads its life -by the <i>concept</i> of eternal desire and detachment—a -mind very near that of Nietzsche.</p> - -<p>It is because of that tyranny of ideas that -Gide is attracted by religious psychology. -After all, Alissa of “La Porte Étroite” -sacrifices her life and her happiness to her -ideas. It is because of that also that one of -the most daring books of the time, “L’Immoraliste,” -is written in the most moral way:<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[7]</a></span> -the feelings are only described by their -reaction on the brain. And this applies to -nearly the whole work of Gide.</p> - -<p>Even his concept of heroism is ruled by it. -His heroes are monomaniacs of a thought -which they believe or create ideal. His -“Roi Candaule” is a man stupefied by -the <i>idea</i> of his possessions.</p> - -<p>That which does not nourish his brain is -a reason for depression, and as love or -passion absorbs the brain without nourishing -it, he resents it. Every attempt of a purely -amorous adventure is a failure, as well in -“L’Immoraliste” as in the “Tentative -Amoureuse.”</p> - -<p>On the contrary, when it becomes by -struggle a problem for the brain it excites -him. Alissa was really his only love, and he -could not love Isabelle when she had lost her -power of attraction through the revelation of -the unknown she represented to his mind.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[8]</a></span>The exaltation of Gide is a Nietzschean -exaltation—it is an exaltation caused by the -power of mind.</p> - -<p>The definition of genius he gives in -“Prétextes” is very characteristic from -that point of view. He calls it: “Le -sentiment de la ressource.”</p> - -<p>His sensitiveness is the sensitiveness of the -brain, which is so acute that it vibrates -through his whole personality. From there -comes the clear, logical form of his tales.</p> - -<p>The book, “Prometheus Illbound,” which -we present to the English public to-day is -one of the most characteristic books of Gide: -a work of pure intellectual fantasy, where -the subtle brain of the author has full play. -It is the expression of the humorous side of -a mind which must be ranked among the -greatest of the world’s literature.</p> - -<p class="right">LILIAN ROTHERMERE.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[9]</a></span></p> - -<p class="ph1">PROMETHEUS<br /> -ILLBOUND</p> - -<p class="center"><span class="gapleft">Eagle, vulture or dove.</span><br /> -<span class="gapleft2"><span class="smcap">Victor Hugo.</span></span></p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[10]</a></span></p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[11]</a></span></p> - - -<p><span class="smcap">In</span> the month of May 189..., at two o’clock -in the afternoon, this occurred which might -appear strange:</p> - -<p>On the boulevard leading from the Madeleine -to the Opéra, a stout gentleman of -middle age, with nothing remarkable about -him but uncommon corpulence, was approached -by a thin gentleman, who smilingly, -thinking no harm, we believe, gave him back -a handkerchief that he had just dropped. -The corpulent gentleman thanked him -briefly and was going his way when he -suddenly leant towards the thin man and -must have asked for information, which must -have been given, for he produced from his -pocket a portable inkpot and pens, which -without more ado he handed to the thin -gentleman, and also an envelope which up -to this minute he had been holding in his -hand. And those who passed could see the -thin man writing an address upon it.—But<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[12]</a></span> -here begins the strange part of the story, -which no newspaper, however, reported: -the thin gentleman, after having given back -the pen and the envelope, had not even the -time to smile adieu when the fat gentleman, -in form of thanks, abruptly struck -him on the face, then jumped in a cab -and disappeared, before any of the spectators, -stupefied with surprise (I was there), -thought of stopping him.</p> - -<p>I have been told since that it was Zeus, -the banker.</p> - -<p>The thin gentleman, visibly upset by the -attentions of the crowd, insisted that he had -hardly felt the blow, notwithstanding that -the blood poured out of his nose and his -cut-open lip. He begged them to be kind -enough to leave him alone, and the crowd, -on his insistence, slowly dispersed. Thus -the reader will allow us to leave at present -some one he will hear of sufficiently later -on.</p> - - - -<hr class="chap" /> - - -<div class="chapter"> -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[13]</a></span> -<h2 class="nobreak">A CHRONICLE OF PRIVATE<br /> -MORALITY</h2></div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[14]</a></span></p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[15]</a></span></p> - - -<h3>I</h3> - - -<p><span class="smcap">I will</span> not speak of public morals, for -there are none, but this reminds me of an -anecdote:</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>When, on the heights of the Caucasus, -Prometheus found that chains, clamps, -strait-waistcoats, parapets, and other scruples, -had on the whole a numbing effect on -him, for a change he turned to the left, -stretched his right arm and, between the -fourth and fifth hours of an autumn afternoon, -walked down the boulevard which -leads from the Madeleine to the Opéra. -Different Parisian celebrities passed continually -before his eyes. Where are they -going? Prometheus asked himself, and -settling himself in a café with a book he -asked: “Waiter, where are they going?”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[16]</a></span></p> - -<h4>THE HISTORY OF THE WAITER AND THE -MIGLIONAIRE</h4> - -<p>—If his lordship could see them coming -and going every day as I do, said the waiter, -he would also ask where do they come from? -It must be the same place, as they pass every -day. I say to myself: Since they always -return they cannot have found what they -want. I now wait for his lordship to ask -me: What are they looking for? and his -lordship will see what I shall reply.</p> - -<p>Then Prometheus asked: What are they -looking for?</p> - -<p>The waiter replied: Since they do not -remain where they go, it cannot be happiness. -His lordship may believe me or -not, and, coming nearer, he said in a low -voice: They are looking for their personalities;—His -lordship does not live -here?...</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[17]</a></span>—No, said Prometheus.</p> - -<p>—One can easily see that, said the waiter; -Yes: personality; we call it here idiosyncrasy: -Like me (for example), from what -you see, you think I am just a waiter in a -restaurant! Well! your lordship, no! It -is by choice; you may believe me or not: -I have an inner life: I observe. Personalities -are the only interesting things; and -then the relations between personalities. -It is very well arranged in this restaurant; -tables for three; I will explain the management -later on. You will dine soon, will you -not? We will introduce you....</p> - -<p>Prometheus was a little tired. The waiter -continued: Yes, tables for three, that is -what I found the easiest: three gentlemen -arrive; they are introduced; they are introduced -(if they wish it, of course), for in my -restaurant before dining you must give your -name; then say what you do; so much -the worse if you deceive each other. Then -you sit down (not I); you talk (not I, of -course)—but I put you in sympathy; I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[18]</a></span> -listen; I scrutinize; I direct the conversation. -At the end of dinner I know three -inner men, three personalities! They, no. -I, you understand, I listen, I bring into -relation; they submit to the relationship.... -You will ask me: What do you gain by -this? Oh, nothing at all! It pleases me to -create relationships.... Oh! not for me!... -It is what one could call an absolutely -gratuitous act.</p> - -<p>Prometheus appeared a little tired. The -waiter continued: A gratuitous act! Does -this convey nothing to you?—To me it -seems extraordinary. I thought for a long -time that this was the one thing that distinguished -man from the animals—a gratuitous -act. I called man an animal capable of a -gratuitous act;—and then afterwards I -thought the contrary; that man is the only -being incapable of acting gratuitously;—gratuitously! -just think; without reason—yes, -I hear—shall we say without motive; -incapable! then this idea began to fidget me. -I said to myself: why does he do this? why<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[19]</a></span> -does he do that? ... and yet I am not a -determinist ... but that reminds me of an -anecdote:</p> - -<p>—I have a friend, my lord, you will -hardly believe me, who he is a miglionaire. -He is also intelligent. He said to himself: -A gratuitous act? how to do it? And -understand this does not only mean an act -that brings no return.... No, but gratuitous: -an act that has no motive. Do -you understand? no interest, no passion, -nothing. The act disinterested; born of -itself; the act without aim, thus without -master; the free act; the act Autochthon!</p> - -<p>—Hey? said Prometheus.</p> - -<p>—Listen well, said the waiter. My friend -went out one morning, taking with him a -bank-note of £20 in an envelope and a blow -prepared in his hand.</p> - -<p>The point was to find somebody without -choosing him. So he drops his handkerchief -in the street, and, to the man who picks it -up (evidently kindly since he picked it up), -the miglionaire:</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[20]</a></span>—Pardon, sir, do you not know some -one?</p> - -<p>The other:—Yes, several.</p> - -<p>The miglionaire: Then, sir, will you have -the kindness to write his name on this envelope; -here is a table, pens, and a pencil....</p> - -<p>The other, good-naturedly, writes, then:—Now, -sir, will you explain yourself...?</p> - -<p>The miglionaire replies: It is on principle; -then (I forgot to tell you he is very strong) -he strikes him with the blow he had in his -hand; then calls a cab and disappears.</p> - -<p>Do you understand?—two gratuitous acts -in one go! The bank-note of £20 sent to -an address which he had not selected, and -the blow given to a person who selected -himself to pick up the handkerchief. No! -but is it gratuitous enough? And the relation? -I bet you have not seriously scrutinized -the relationship; for, as the act is -gratuitous, it is what we call here reversible: -One receives £20 for a blow, and the other -a blow for £20 ... then.... No one knows -... one is lost—think of it! A gratuitous<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[21]</a></span> -act! There is nothing more demoralizing.—But -my lord is beginning to be hungry; -I beg his lordship’s pardon; I forget myself, -I talk too much.... Will his lordship -kindly give me his name,—so that I can -introduce him....</p> - -<p>—Prometheus, said Prometheus simply.</p> - -<p>—Prometheus! I was right, his lordship -is a stranger here ... and his lordship’s -occupation is...?</p> - -<p>—I do nothing, said Prometheus.</p> - -<p>—Oh! no. No, said the waiter with an -ingratiating smile.—Only to see his lordship, -one knows at once that he is a man -with an occupation.</p> - -<p>—It is so long ago, stammered Prometheus.</p> - -<p>—Never mind, never mind, continued the -waiter. Anyway, his lordship need not be uneasy; -in introducing I only say the name, -if you like; but the occupation never. Come, -tell me: his lordship’s occupation is...?</p> - -<p>—Making matches, murmured Prometheus, -blushing.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[22]</a></span>There followed a painful silence, the -waiter understanding that he should not -have insisted, Prometheus feeling that he -should not have answered.</p> - -<p>In a consoling tone: Well! after all his -lordship does not make them any more ... -said the waiter. But then, what? I must -write down something, I cannot write -simply: Prometheus. His lordship has perhaps -an avocation, a speciality.... After -all, what can his lordship do?</p> - -<p>—Nothing, again said Prometheus.</p> - -<p>—Then let us say: Journalist.—Now, if -his lordship will come into the restaurant; -I cannot serve dinner outside. And he -cried:—A table for three! one!...</p> - -<p>By two doors two gentlemen entered; -they could be seen giving their names to -the waiter; but the introductions not having -been asked for, without more ado the two -men both sat down.</p> - -<p>And when they had sat down:</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[23]</a></span></p> - - -<h3>II</h3> - -<p>—Gentlemen, said one of them,—if I -have come to this restaurant, where the -food is bad, it is only to talk. I have a -horror of solitary meals, and this system -of tables for three pleases me, as with -two one might wrangle.... But you look -taciturn?</p> - -<p>—It is quite unintentional, said Prometheus.</p> - -<p>—Shall I continue?</p> - -<p>—Yes, please do.</p> - -<p>—It seems to me quite possible that -during lunch three people have time to -become very well known to each other,—not -losing too much time eating,—not talking too -much; and avoiding trite topics; I mean to -say mentioning only strictly individual experiences. -I do not pretend that one is -obliged to talk, but why come to this<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[24]</a></span> -restaurant, where the food is bad, if conversation -does not suit you?</p> - -<p>Prometheus was very tired: the waiter -leant over and whispered: That is Cocles. -The one who is going to speak is Damocles.</p> - -<p>Damocles said:</p> - - -<h4>THE HISTORY OF DAMOCLES</h4> - -<p>Sir, if you had said that to me a month -ago, I should have had nothing to say; but -after what happened to me last month, all -my ideas have changed. I will not speak of -my old thoughts except to make you understand -in what way I have changed.—Now, -gentlemen, since thirty days I feel that I -am an original, unique being, with a very -singular destiny.—So, gentlemen, you can -deduct that before I felt the contrary, I -lived a perfectly ordinary life and made it -my business to be as commonplace as -possible. Now, however, I must admit that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[25]</a></span> -a commonplace man does not exist, and I -affirm that it is a vain ambition to try to -resemble everybody, for everybody is composed -of each one, and each one does not -resemble anybody. But never mind, I took -the greatest pains to put things right; I -drew up statistics; I calculated the happy -medium—without understanding that extremes -meet, that he who goes to bed very -late comes across him who gets up very -early, and that he who chooses the happy -medium risks to fall between two stools.—Every -night I went to bed at ten. I slept -eight hours and a half. I was most careful -in all my actions to copy the majority, and -in all my thoughts the most approved -opinions. Useless to insist.</p> - -<p>But one day a personal adventure happened -to me, the importance of which in -the life of a well-ordered man as I was can -only be understood later on. It is a precedent; -it is terrible. And I received it.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[26]</a></span></p> - - -<h3>III</h3> - -<p>Just imagine, one morning I received a -letter. Gentlemen, I see by your lack of -astonishment that I am telling my story very -badly. I should have told you first that I -did not expect any letters. I receive exactly -two a year: one from my landlord to ask -for the rent, and one from my bankers to -inform me that I can pay it; but on the -first of January I received a third letter.... -I cannot tell you where from. The address -was in an unknown hand. The complete -lack of character shown in the writing, -which was revealed to me by graphologists, -whom I consulted, gave me no clue. The -only indication the writing gave was one of -great kindness; and here again certain of -them inferred weakness. They could make -nothing of it. The writing ... I speak, -you understand, of the writing on the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[27]</a></span> -envelope; for in the envelope there was -none; none—not a word, not a line. In -the envelope there was nothing but a bank-note -of £20.</p> - -<p>I was just going to drink my chocolate; -but I was so astonished that I let it get cold. -I searched my mind ... nobody owes me -money. I have a fixed revenue, gentlemen, -and with little economies each year, notwithstanding -the continual fall in the value -of stock, I manage to live within my income. -I expected nothing, as I have said. I have -never asked for anything. My usual regular -life prevents me from even wishing for anything. -I gave much thought to the question -after the best methods: <i>Cur, unde, quo, -qua?</i>—From where, for where, by where, -why? And this note was not an answer, for -this was the first time in my life I questioned -anything. I thought: it must be a mistake; -perhaps I can repair it. This sum was -intended no doubt for some one of the same -name. So I looked in the Post Office -Directory for a homonym, who was perhaps<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[28]</a></span> -expecting the letter. But my name cannot -be common, as in looking through that -enormous book I was the only one of that -name indicated.</p> - -<p>I hoped to come to a better result by the -writing on the envelope, and find out who -sent the letter, if not to whom it was sent. -It was then that I consulted the graphologists. -But nothing—no nothing—they -could tell me nothing; which only increased -my distress. These £20 troubled me more -and more every day; I would like to get -rid of them, but I do not know what to do. -For anyhow ... or if some one had given -them to me, at least they deserve to be -thanked. I should like to show my gratitude,—but -to whom?</p> - -<p>Always in the hope of something turning -up, I carry the note with me. It does -not leave me day or night. I am at its -disposal. Before, I was banal but free. -Now I belong to that note. This adventure -has decided me; I was nothing, now I am -somebody. Since this adventure I am restless;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[29]</a></span> -I search for people to talk to, and if -I come here for my meals it is because of -this system of tables for three; among the -people I meet here I hope one day to find -the one who will know the writing on the -envelope, here it is....</p> - -<p>With these words Damocles drew from -his breast a sigh and from his frock-coat -a dirty yellow envelope. His full name -was written there in a very ordinary handwriting.</p> - -<p>Then a strange thing happened: Cocles, -who up to that time had been silent, -kept silent,—but suddenly raised his -hand and made a violent effort to strike -Damocles, the waiter catching his hand just -in time. Cocles recovered himself and sadly -made this speech, which can be only understood -later on: After all, it is better so, -for if I had succeeded in returning you -the blow you would have believed it your -duty to give me back the note and ... it -does not belong to me.—Then, seeing that -Damocles was waiting for a further explanation:—It<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[30]</a></span> -was I, he added, pointing to -the envelope, who wrote your address.</p> - -<p>—But how did you know my name, cried -Damocles, rather annoyed by the incident.</p> - -<p>—By chance—quietly said Cocles;—in -any case that is of little importance in this -story. My story is even more curious than -yours; let me tell you in a few words:</p> - - -<h4>THE HISTORY OF COCLES</h4> - -<p>I have very few friends in the world; and -before this happened I did not know of -one. I do not know who was my father -and I never knew my mother; for a long -time I wondered why I lived.</p> - -<p>I went out into the streets, searching for -a determining influence from outside. I -thought, the first thing that happens to me -will decide my destiny; for I did not -make myself as I am, too naturally kind -for that. The first act, I knew, would give<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[31]</a></span> -a motive to my life. Naturally kind, as I -have said, my first act was to pick up a -handkerchief. The one who dropped it had -only gone three steps. Running after him -I returned it to him. He took it without -appearing surprised; no—the surprise was -mine when he handed me an envelope—the -same one that you see here.—Will you -have the kindness, he said smilingly, to -write here an address.—What address? I -asked.—That, he replied, of any one you -know.—So saying he placed near me all -the materials to write with. Wishing to let -myself go to exterior influence I submitted. -But, as I told you, I have few friends in the -world. I wrote the first name that came -into my head at the moment, a name -quite unknown to me. Having written the -name I bowed—would have walked on—when -I received a tremendous blow on my -face.</p> - -<p>In my astonishment I lost sight of my -adversary. When I came to myself, I was -surrounded by a crowd. All spoke at once.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[32]</a></span> -They would not let me alone. I could only -rid myself of their attentions by assuring -them that I was not hurt at all, even though -my jaw caused me terrible pain and my -nose was bleeding furiously.</p> - -<p>The tumefaction of my face confined me -to my room for a week. I passed my time -thinking:</p> - -<p>Why did he strike me?</p> - -<p>It must have been a mistake. What could -he have against me? I have never hurt -anybody; nobody could wish me ill.—There -must be a reason for ill-will.</p> - -<p>And if it was not a mistake?—for the -first time I was thinking. If that blow was -intended for me! In any case, what does it -matter! by mistake or not, I received it -and ... shall I return it? I have told you, -I am naturally good-hearted. And then there -is another thing which worries me: the man -who struck me was much stronger than I.</p> - -<p>When my face was well and I could again -go out, I looked everywhere for my adversary; -yes, but it was to avoid him. Anyway,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[33]</a></span> -I never saw him again, and if I avoided -him it was without knowing it.</p> - -<p>But—and in saying this he leant towards -Prometheus, you see to-day how everything -joins up, it is becoming more complicated -instead of less so: I understand that, thanks -to my blow, this gentleman has received £20.</p> - -<p>—Ah, but allow me! said Damocles.</p> - -<p>—I am Cocles, sir, said he, bowing to -Damocles;—Cocles! and I tell you my -name, Damocles, for you must certainly be -pleased to know to whom you owe your -windfall....</p> - -<p>—But....</p> - -<p>—Yes—I know: we will not say to -whom; we will say: from the suffering of -whom.... For understand and do not -forget that your gain came from my -misfortune....</p> - -<p>—But....</p> - -<p>—Do not cavil, I beg you. Between -your gain and my trouble there is a relation; -I do not quite know which, but there is a -relation....</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[34]</a></span>—But, sir....</p> - -<p>—Do not call me sir.</p> - -<p>—But, my dear Cocles.</p> - -<p>—Say simply Cocles.</p> - -<p>—But once again, my best Cocles....</p> - -<p>—No, sir,—no, Damocles,—and it is -no use your talking, for I still wear the mark -of the blow on my cheek ... it is a wound -that I will show you at once.</p> - -<p>The conversation becoming disagreeably -personal, the waiter at this moment showed -his tact.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[35]</a></span></p> - - -<h3>IV</h3> - -<p>By a clever movement,—simply upsetting -a full plate over Prometheus,—he -suddenly diverted the attention of the -other two. Prometheus could not restrain -an exclamation, and his voice after the -others seemed so profound that one realized -that up to this minute he had not -spoken.</p> - -<p>The irritation of Damocles and Cocles -joined forces.</p> - -<p>—But you say nothing—they cried.</p> - - -<h4>PROMETHEUS SPEAKS</h4> - -<p>—Oh, gentlemen, anything that I can say -has so little importance.... I do not -really see how ... and then the more I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[36]</a></span> -think.... No, truly I have nothing to say. -You have each of you a history; I have -none. Excuse me. Believe me it is with -the greatest interest that I have heard you -each relate an adventure which I wish ... I -could.... But I cannot even express myself -easily. No, truly you must excuse -me, gentlemen. I have been in Paris less -than two hours; nothing has as yet happened -to me, except my delightful meeting -with you, which gives me such a good idea -of what a conversation can be between two -Parisians, when they are both men of -talent....</p> - -<p>—But before you came here, said -Cocles.</p> - -<p>—You must have been somewhere, added -Damocles.</p> - -<p>—Yes, I admit it, said Prometheus.... -But again, once more, it has absolutely no -connexion....</p> - -<p>—Never mind, said Cocles, we came here -to talk. We have both of us, Damocles and -I, already given our share; you alone bring<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[37]</a></span> -nothing; you listen; it is not fair. It is -time to speak Mr....?</p> - -<p>The waiter, feeling instinctively that the -moment had come for the introduction, -quietly slipped in the name to complete the -sentence:</p> - -<p>—Prometheus—he said simply.</p> - -<p>—Prometheus, repeated Damocles.—Excuse -me, sir, but it seems to me that that -name already....</p> - -<p>—Oh! interrupted Prometheus quickly, -that is not of the slightest importance.</p> - -<p>—But if there is nothing of importance, -impatiently cried the other two, why have -you come here, dear Mr.... Mr....?</p> - -<p>—Prometheus, replied Prometheus simply.</p> - -<p>—Dear Mr. Prometheus—as I remarked -a while ago, continued Cocles, this restaurant -invites conversation, and nothing will convince -me that your strange name is the only -thing that distinguishes you; if you have -done nothing, you are surely going to do -something. What are you capable of doing? -What is the most distinguishing thing about<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[38]</a></span> -you? What have you that nobody else -possesses? Why do you call yourself Prometheus?</p> - -<p>Drowned beneath this flow of questions -Prometheus bent his head and slowly and in -a serious voice stammered...:</p> - -<p>—What have I, gentlemen?—What have -I?—Oh, I have an eagle.</p> - -<p>—A what?</p> - -<p>—Eagle—Vulture perhaps—opinions -differ.</p> - -<p>—An eagle! That’s funny!—an eagle -... where is he?</p> - -<p>—You insist on seeing it, said Prometheus.</p> - -<p>—Yes, they cried, if it is not too indiscreet.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>Then Prometheus, quite forgetting where -he was, suddenly started up and gave a -great cry, a call to his eagle. And this -stupefying thing happened:</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[39]</a></span></p> - - -<h4>HISTORY OF THE EAGLE</h4> - -<p>A bird which from afar looked enormous, -but which seen close to was not so very big -after all, darkened for a moment the sky -above the boulevard and sped like a whirlwind -towards the café; bursting through -the window, it put out Cocles’ eye with one -stroke of its wing and then, chirruping as it -did so, tenderly indeed but imperiously, fell -with a swoop upon Prometheus’ right side.</p> - -<p>And Prometheus forthwith undid his -waistcoat and offered his liver to the bird.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[40]</a></span></p> - - -<h3>V</h3> - -<p>There was a great disturbance. Voices -now mingled confusedly, for some other -people had come into the restaurant.</p> - -<p>—But for goodness’ sake, take care! cried -Cocles.</p> - -<p>His remark was unheard beneath the loud -cries of:</p> - -<p>—That! an eagle! I don’t think!! -Look at that poor gaunt bird! That ... an -eagle!—Not much!! at the most, a conscience.</p> - -<p>The fact is that the great eagle was pitiful -to see—thin and mangy, and with drooping -wings as it greedily devoured its miserable -pittance, the poor bird seemed as if it had -not eaten for three days.</p> - -<p>Others, nevertheless, made a fuss and -whispered insinuatingly to Prometheus: -But, sir, I hope you do not think that this<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[41]</a></span> -eagle distinguishes you in any way. An -eagle, shall I tell you?—an eagle, we all -have one.</p> - -<p>—But ... said another.</p> - -<p>—But we do not bring them to Paris, -continued another.—In Paris it is not the -fashion. Eagles are a nuisance. You see -what it has already done. If it amuses you -to let it eat your liver you are at liberty to -do so; but I must tell you that it is a -painful sight. When you do it you should -hide yourself.</p> - -<p>Prometheus, confused, murmured: Excuse -me, gentlemen,—Oh! I am really -sorry. What can I do?</p> - -<p>—You ought to get rid of it before you -come in, sir.</p> - -<p>And some said: Smother it.</p> - -<p>And others: Sell it. The newspaper -offices are there for nothing else, sir.</p> - -<p>And in the tumult which followed no one -noticed Damocles, who suddenly asked the -waiter for the bill.</p> - -<p>The waiter gave him the following:</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[42]</a></span></p> - -<table border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2" summary="table"> - -<tr><td><i>3 lunches (with conversation) </i></td><td class="tdr">Fr. 30.00</td></tr> -<tr><td><i>Shop window</i></td><td class="tdr">450.00</td></tr> -<tr><td><i>A glass eye for Cocles</i></td><td class="tdr">3.50</td></tr> -</table> - -<p>... and keep the rest for yourself, said -Damocles, handing the bank-note to the -waiter. Then he quickly made off, beaming -with joy.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>The end of this chapter is much less -interesting. Little by little the restaurant -became empty. In vain Prometheus and -Cocles insisted on paying their share of the -bill—Damocles had already paid it. Prometheus -said good-bye to the waiter and -Cocles, and going back slowly to the Caucasus -he thought: Sell it?—Smother it?... -Tame it perhaps?...</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - - - - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[43]</a></span> -<h2 class="nobreak">THE IMPRISONMENT OF -PROMETHEUS</h2></div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[44]</a></span></p> -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[45]</a></span></p> - -<h3>I</h3> - -<p><span class="smcap">It</span> was a few days after this that Prometheus, -denounced by the over-zealous waiter, found -himself in prison for making matches without -a licence.</p> - -<p>The prison was isolated from the rest of -the world, and its only outlook was on to -the sky. From the outside it had the appearance -of a tower. In the inside Prometheus -was consumed by boredom.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>The waiter paid him a visit.</p> - -<p>—Oh! said Prometheus smiling, I am so -happy to see you! I was bored to death. Tell -me, you who come from outside; the wall -of this dungeon separates me from everything -and I know nothing about other -people. What is happening?—And you, -first tell me what you are doing.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[46]</a></span>—Since your scandal, replied the waiter -nothing much; hardly anybody has been to -the restaurant. We have lost a great deal -of time in repairing the window.</p> - -<p>—I am greatly distressed, said Prometheus;—but -Damocles? Have you seen Damocles? -He left the restaurant so quickly the -other day; I was not able to say good-bye. -I am so sorry. He seemed a very quiet -person, well-mannered, and full of scruples; -I was touched when he told me so naturally -of his trouble.—I hope when he left the -table he was happier?</p> - -<p>—That did not last, said the waiter. -I saw him the next day more uneasy than -ever. In talking to me he cried. His -greatest anxiety was the health of Cocles.</p> - -<p>—Is he unwell? asked Prometheus.</p> - -<p>—Cocles?—Oh no, replied the waiter. -I will say more: He sees better since he sees -with only one eye. He shows every one -his glass eye, and is delighted when he is -condoled with. When you see him, tell -him that his new eye looks well, and that he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[47]</a></span> -wears it gracefully; but add how he must -have suffered....</p> - -<p>—He suffers then?</p> - -<p>—Yes, perhaps, when people do not -sympathize with him.</p> - -<p>—But then, if Cocles is well and does not -suffer, why is Damocles anxious?</p> - -<p>—Because of that which Cocles should -have suffered.</p> - -<p>—You advise me then strongly....</p> - -<p>—To say it, yes, but Damocles thinks it, -and that’s what kills him.</p> - -<p>—What else does he do?</p> - -<p>—Nothing. This unique occupation wears -him out. Between us, he is a man obsessed.—He -says that without those £20 -Cocles would not be miserable.</p> - -<p>—And Cocles?</p> - -<p>—He says the same.... But he has -become rich.</p> - -<p>—Really ... how?</p> - -<p>—Oh! I do not know exactly;—but he -has been talked about in the papers; and a -subscription has been opened in his favour.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[48]</a></span>—And what does he do with it?</p> - -<p>—He is an artful fellow. With the -money collected he thinks of founding a -hospital.</p> - -<p>—A hospital?</p> - -<p>—Yes, a small hospital for the one -eyed. He has made himself director of -it.</p> - -<p>—Ah bah! cried Prometheus; you interest -me enormously.</p> - -<p>—I hoped you would be interested, said -the waiter.</p> - -<p>—And tell me ... the Miglionaire?</p> - -<p>—Oh! he, he is a wonderful chap!—If -you imagine that all that upsets him! -He is like me: he observes.... If it would -amuse you, I will introduce you to him—when -you come out of this....</p> - -<p>—Well, by the way, why am I here? -Prometheus said at last. What am I -accused of? Do you know, waiter, you -seem to know everything?</p> - -<p>—My goodness no, pretended the waiter. -All that I know is that it is only preliminary<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[49]</a></span> -detention. After they have condemned you, -you will know.</p> - -<p>—Well, so much the better! said Prometheus. -I always prefer to know.</p> - -<p>—Good-bye, said the waiter; it is late. -With you it is astonishing how the time -flies.... But tell me: your eagle? What -has become of him?</p> - -<p>—Bless me! I have thought no more -of him, said Prometheus. But when the -waiter had gone Prometheus began to think -of his eagle.</p> - - -<h4>HE MUST INCREASE BUT I MUST DECREASE</h4> - -<p>And as Prometheus was bored in the -evening, he called his eagle.—The eagle -came.</p> - -<p>—I have waited a long time for thee, -said Prometheus.</p> - -<p>Why didst thou not call me before? -replied the eagle.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[50]</a></span>For the first time Prometheus looked at -his eagle, casually perched upon the twisted -bars of the dungeon. In the golden light of -the sunset he appeared more spiritless than -ever; he was grey, ugly, stunted, surly, -resigned, and miserable; he seemed too -feeble to fly, seeing which Prometheus cried -with pity.</p> - -<p>—Faithful bird, he said to him, dost thou -suffer?—tell me: what is the matter?</p> - -<p>—I am hungry, said the eagle.</p> - -<p>—Eat, said Prometheus, uncovering his -liver.</p> - -<p>The bird ate.</p> - -<p>—I suffer, said Prometheus.</p> - -<p>But the eagle said nothing more that day.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[51]</a></span></p> - - -<h3>II</h3> - -<p>The next day at sunrise Prometheus -longed for his eagle; he called it from the -depth of the reddening dawn, and as the -sun rose the eagle appeared. He had three -more feathers and Prometheus sobbed with -tenderness.</p> - -<p>—How late thou comest, he said, caressing -his feathers.</p> - -<p>—It is because I cannot yet fly very fast, -said the bird. I skim the ground....</p> - -<p>—Why?</p> - -<p>—I am so weak!</p> - -<p>—What dost thou want to make thee fly -faster?</p> - -<p>—Thy liver.</p> - -<p>—Very well, eat.</p> - -<p>The next day the eagle had eight more -feathers and a few days after he arrived<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[52]</a></span> -before the dawn. Prometheus himself became -very thin.</p> - -<p>—Tell me of the world, he said to the -eagle. What has happened to all the others?</p> - -<p>—Oh! now I fly very high, replied the -eagle; I see nothing but the sky and thee.</p> - -<p>His wings had grown slowly bigger.</p> - -<p>—Lovely bird, what hast thou to tell me -this morning?</p> - -<p>—I have carried my hunger through the -air.</p> - -<p>—Eagle, wilt thou never be less cruel?</p> - -<p>—No! But I may become very beautiful.</p> - -<p>Prometheus, enamoured of the future -beauty of his eagle, gave him each day -more to eat.</p> - -<p>One evening the eagle did not leave -him.</p> - -<p>The next day it was the same.</p> - -<p>He fascinated the prisoner by his gnawings; -and, the prisoner, who fascinated him -by his caresses, languished and pined away -for love, all day caressing his feathers, sleeping -at night beneath his wings, and feeding<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[53]</a></span> -him as he desired.—The eagle did not stir -night or day.</p> - -<p>—Sweet eagle, who would have believed -it?</p> - -<p>—Believed what?</p> - -<p>—That our love could be so charming.</p> - -<p>—Ah! Prometheus....</p> - -<p>—Tell me, my sweet bird! Why am I -shut up here?</p> - -<p>—What does that matter to thee? Am I -not with thee?</p> - -<p>—Yes; it matters little! but art thou -pleased with me, beautiful eagle?</p> - -<p>—Yes, if thou thinkest I am beautiful.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[54]</a></span></p> - - -<h3>III</h3> - -<p>It was spring-time; around the bars of the -tower the fragrant wisteria was in flower.</p> - -<p>—One day we will go away, said the eagle.</p> - -<p>—Really? cried Prometheus.</p> - -<p>—Because I am now very strong and thou -art thinner. I can carry thee.</p> - -<p>—Eagle, my eagle!... Take me away.</p> - -<p>And the eagle carried him away.</p> - - -<h4>A CHAPTER WHILE WAITING THE -NEXT ONE</h4> - -<p>That evening Cocles and Damocles met -each other. They chatted together; but -with a certain embarrassment.</p> - -<p>—What can you expect? said Cocles, -our points of view are so opposed.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[55]</a></span>—Do you think so? replied Damocles. -My only desire is that we understand each -other.</p> - -<p>—You say that, but you only understand -yourself.</p> - -<p>—And you, you do not even listen to -what I say.</p> - -<p>—I know all that you would say.</p> - -<p>—Say it then if you know it.</p> - -<p>—You pretend to know it better than I do.</p> - -<p>—Alas! Cocles, you get cross;—but for -the love of God tell me what ought I to do?</p> - -<p>—Ah! nothing more for me, I beg you; -you have already given me a glass eye....</p> - -<p>—Glass, in lack of a better, my Cocles.</p> - -<p>—Yes—after having half blinded me.</p> - -<p>—But it was not I, dear Cocles.</p> - -<p>—It was more or less; and in any case -you can pay for the eye—thanks to my blow.</p> - -<p>—Cocles! forget the past!...</p> - -<p>—No doubt it pleases you to forget.</p> - -<p>—That’s not what I mean to say to you.</p> - -<p>—But what do you mean to say then? -Go on, speak!</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[56]</a></span>—You do not listen to me.</p> - -<p>—Because I know all that you would -say!...</p> - -<p>The discussion, for want of something new -began to take a dangerous turn, when both -men were suddenly arrested by an advertisement -which ran as follows:</p> - -<blockquote> -<p class="center">THIS EVENING AT 8 O’CLOCK<br /> -IN THE<br /> -<span class="xlarge">HALL OF THE NEW MOONS<br /> -PROMETHEUS DELIVERED</span><br /> -WILL SPEAK OF<br /> -HIS<br /> -<span class="xlarge">EAGLE</span></p> - -<p class="center"><i>At 8.30 the Eagle will be presented and will perform -some tricks. At 9 o’clock a collection will be -made by the waiter on behalf of Cocles’ hospital.</i></p></blockquote> - -<p>—I must see that, said Cocles.</p> - -<p>—I will go with you, said Damocles.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[57]</a></span></p> - - -<h3>IV</h3> - -<p>In the Hall of the New Moons, at eight -o’clock precisely, the crowd gathered.</p> - -<p>Cocles sat on the left; Damocles on the -right; and the rest of the public in the -middle.</p> - -<p>A thunder of applause greeted the entry -of Prometheus; he mounted the steps of -the platform, placed his eagle at the side of -him, and pulled himself together.</p> - -<p>In the hall there was a palpitating silence....</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[58]</a></span></p> - - -<h4>THE PETITIO PRINCIPII</h4> - -<p>—Gentlemen, began Prometheus, I do not -pretend, alas! to interest you by what I am -about to say, so I was careful to bring this -eagle with me. After each tiresome part -of my lecture he will play some tricks. -I have also with me some indecent photographs -and some fireworks, with which -when I reach the most serious moments of -my lecture I will try to distract the attention -of the public. Thus, I dare to hope, -gentlemen, for some attention. At each -new head of my discourse I shall have -the honour, gentlemen, to ask you to watch -the eagle eating his dinner,—for, gentlemen, -my discourse has three heads; I did -not think it proper to reject this form, which -is agreeable to my classical mind.—This -being the exordium, I will tell you at once -and without more ado, the first two heads -of the discourse:</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[59]</a></span>First head: One must have an eagle.</p> - -<p>Second head: In any case, we all have -one.</p> - -<p>Fearing that you will accuse me of prejudice, -gentlemen; fearing also to interfere -with my liberty of thought, I have prepared -my lecture only up to that point; the third -head will naturally unfold from the other -two. I will let inspiration have all its own -way.—As conclusion, the eagle, gentlemen, -will make the collection.</p> - -<p>—Bravo! Bravo! cried Cocles.</p> - -<p>Prometheus drank a little water. The -eagle pirouetted three times round Prometheus -and then bowed. Prometheus looked -round the hall, smiled at Damocles and at -Cocles, and as no sign of restlessness was as -yet shown he kept the fireworks for later on, -and continued:</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[60]</a></span></p> - - -<h3>V</h3> - -<p>—However clever a rhetorician I may be -gentlemen, in the presence of such perspicacious -minds as yours I cannot juggle away -the inevitable <i>petitio principii</i> which awaits -me at the beginning of this lecture.</p> - -<p>Gentlemen, try as we may, we cannot -escape the <i>petitio principii</i>. Now; what is a -petition of principles? Gentlemen, I dare -to say it: Every <i>petitio principii</i> is an affirmation -of temperament; for where principles -are missing, there the temperament is -affirmed.</p> - -<p>When I declare: You must have an eagle -you may all exclaim: Why?—Now, what -answer can I make in reply that will not -bring us back to that formula, which is the -affirmation of my temperament: I do not -love men: I love that which devours them. -Temperament, gentlemen, is that which<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[61]</a></span> -must affirm itself. A fresh <i>petitio principii</i>, -you will say. But I have demonstrated that -every <i>petitio principii</i> is an affirmation of -temperament; and as I say one must -affirm one’s temperament (for it is important), -I repeat: I do not love men: I love -that which devours them.—Now what devours -man?—His eagle. Therefore, gentlemen, -one must have an eagle. I think I -have fully demonstrated this.</p> - -<p>... Alas! I see, gentlemen, that I bore -you; some of you are yawning. I could, it -is true, here make a few jokes; but you -would feel them out of place; I have an -irredeemably serious mind.</p> - -<p>I prefer to circulate among you some -indecent photographs; they will keep those -quiet who are feeling bored, which will -enable me to go on.</p> - -<p>Prometheus drank a drop of water. The -eagle pirouetted three times round Prometheus -and bowed. Prometheus went -on:</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[62]</a></span></p> - - -<h4>CONTINUATION OF PROMETHEUS’ -LECTURE</h4> - -<p>—Gentlemen, I have not always known -my eagle. That is what makes me deduce, -by a process of reasoning which the logic -books I never studied till a week ago, call by -some particular name I have forgotten—that -is what makes me deduce, I say, that, -even though the only eagle here is mine, -you all, gentlemen, have an eagle.</p> - -<p>I have said nothing, up to the present, of -my own history; firstly because, up to the -present, I have not understood it. And if I -decide to speak of it now it is because, -thanks to my eagle, it now appears to me -marvellous.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[63]</a></span></p> - - -<h3>VI</h3> - -<p>—Gentlemen, as I have already said, my -eagle was not always with me. Before his -time I was unconscious and beautiful, happy -and naked and unaware. Oh! Charming -days! On the many-fountained sides of -the Caucasus, lascivious Asia, naked too and -unaware, held me in her arms.</p> - -<p>Together we sported, tumbling in the -valleys; the air sang, the water laughed, the -simplest flowers were fragrant for our delight. -And often we lay beneath spreading -branches, among flowers which were the -haunt of murmuring bees.</p> - -<p>Asia wedded me, all laughter and then the -murmuring swarms and the rustling leaves, -with which was mingled the music of the -streams, gently lulled us to the sweetest of -slumbers. Around us all consented—all -protected our inhuman solitude.—Suddenly<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[64]</a></span> -one day Asia said to me: You should -interest yourself in men.</p> - -<p>I first had to find them.</p> - -<p>I was willing enough to interest myself in -them—but it was to pity them.</p> - -<p>They lived in such darkness; I invented -for them certain kinds of fire, and from -that moment my eagle began. And it is -since that day that I have become aware -that I am naked.</p> - -<p>At these words, applause arose from -various parts of the hall. All of a sudden -Prometheus broke into sobs.</p> - -<p>The eagle flapped his wings and cooed.</p> - -<p>With an agonizing gesture Prometheus -opened his waistcoat and offered his tortured -liver to the bird.</p> - -<p>The applause redoubled.</p> - -<p>Then the eagle pirouetted three times -round Prometheus, who drank a few drops -of water, and continued his lecture in these -words:</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[65]</a></span></p> - - -<h3>VII</h3> - -<p>—Gentlemen, my modesty overcame me. -Excuse me, it is the first time I speak in -public. But now it is my sincerity which -overcomes me. Gentlemen, I have been -more interested in men than I have ever -admitted. Gentlemen, I have done a great -deal for men. Gentlemen, I have passionately, -wildly, and deplorably loved men—and -I have done so much for them—one -can almost say that I have made them; for -before, what were they? They existed, but -had no consciousness of existence; I made -this consciousness like a fire to enlighten -them, gentlemen; I made it with all the -love I bore them.—The first consciousness -they had was that of their beauty. It is -this which caused the propagation of the -race. Men were prolonged in their posterity. -The beauty of the first was repeated,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[66]</a></span> -equally, indifferently, uneventfully. It could -have lasted a long time.—Then I grew -anxious, for I carried in me already, without -knowing it, my eagle’s egg and I wanted -more or better. This propagation, this -piecemeal prolongation, seemed to me to -indicate in them an expectancy—when in -reality only my eagle was waiting. I did -not know; that expectancy I thought was -in man; that expectancy I put in man. -Besides, having made man in my image, I -now understood that in every man there was -something hatching; in each one was the -eagle’s egg.... And then, I do not know; -I cannot explain this.—All that I know is -that, not satisfied with giving them consciousness -of existence, I also wished to -give them a reason for existence. So I gave -them Fire, flame and all the arts which a -flame nourishes. By warming their minds, -I brought forth the devouring faith in progress. -And I was strangely happy when -their health was consumed in producing it. -No more belief in good, but the morbid hope<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[67]</a></span> -for better. The belief in progress, gentlemen, -that was their eagle. Our eagle is our -reason for existence, gentlemen.</p> - -<p>Man’s happiness grew less and less—but -that was nothing to me: the eagle was born, -gentlemen! I loved men no more, I loved -what fed on them. I had had enough of a -humanity without history.... The history -of man is the history of their eagles, gentlemen.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[68]</a></span></p> - - -<h3>VIII</h3> - -<p>Applause broke out here and there. Prometheus, -abashed, excused himself:</p> - -<p>—Gentlemen, I was lying: pardon me: -it did not happen quite so quickly: No, I -have not always loved eagles: For a long -time I preferred men; their injured happiness -was dear to me, because once having -interfered I believed myself responsible, -and in the evening every time I thought -of it, my eagle, sad as remorse, came to -eat.</p> - -<p>He was at this time gaunt and grey, -careworn and morose, and he was as ugly as -a vulture.—Gentlemen, look at him now -and understand why I tell you this; why -I asked you to come here; why I entreat -you to listen to me. It is because I have -discovered this: the eagle can become very -beautiful. Now, every one of us has an<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[69]</a></span> -eagle; as I have just most earnestly asserted. -An eagle?—Alas, a vulture perhaps! no, -no, not a vulture, gentlemen!—Gentlemen, -you must have an eagle....</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>And now I touch the most serious question:—Why -an eagle?... Ah! Why?—let -him say why. Here is mine, gentlemen; -I bring him to you.... Eagle! Will you -reply now? Anxiously Prometheus turned -towards his eagle. The eagle was motionless -and remained silent.... Prometheus continued -in a distressed voice:</p> - -<p>—Gentlemen, gentlemen, I have vainly -questioned my eagle.... Eagle! speak -now: every one listens to you.... Who -sends you? Why have you chosen me? -Where do you come from? Where do you -go to? Speak: What is your nature? -(The eagle remained silent.) No, nothing! -Not a word! Not a cry!—I hoped he -would speak to you at any rate; that is why -I brought him with me.... Must I speak<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[70]</a></span> -alone here?—All is silence!—All is -silence!</p> - -<p>What does it mean?... I have questioned -in vain. Then turning towards the -audience:</p> - -<p>Oh! I hoped, gentlemen, that you would -love my eagle, that your love would affirm -his beauty.—That is why I gave myself -up to him, that is why I filled him with the -blood of my soul.... But I see I am alone -in admiring him. Is it not enough for you -that he is beautiful? Or do you not admit -his beauty? Look at him at least. I have -lived only for him—and now I bring him -to you: There he is! As for me I live for -him—but he ... but he, why does he live?</p> - -<p>Eagle that I have nourished with the -blood of my soul, whom with all my love -I have caressed ... (here Prometheus was -interrupted by sobs)—must I then leave -the earth without knowing why I loved you, -nor what you will do, nor what you will be, -after me on the earth ... on the earth? I -have ... asked in vain ... in vain....</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[71]</a></span>The words choked in his throat—his -voice could not be heard through his tears.—Pardon -me, gentlemen,—he continued a -little calmer; pardon me for saying such -serious things, but if I knew more serious -ones I would say them....</p> - -<p>Perspiring, Prometheus wiped his face, -drank some water, and added:</p> - - -<h4>THE END OF PROMETHEUS’ LECTURE</h4> - -<p>—I have only prepared my lecture up to -this point....</p> - -<p>... At these words there was a rustling -among the audience; several, feeling bored, -wished to go out.</p> - -<p>—Gentlemen, cried Prometheus, I beseech -you to stay, it will not be very long -now; but the most important thing of all -remains to be said, if I have not already -persuaded you.... Gentlemen!—for -goodness’ sake.... Here! quickly: a few<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[72]</a></span> -fireworks; I will keep the best for the -end.... Gentlemen!—sit down again, I -pray you; look: do not think I want to -economize: I light six at a time.—But -first, waiter, shut the doors.</p> - -<p>The fireworks were more or less effective. -Nearly every one sat down again.</p> - -<p>—But where was I? cried Prometheus. -I counted upon getting under weigh; disturbance -has checked me.</p> - -<p>—So much the better, cried some one.</p> - -<p>—Ah! I know ... continued Prometheus. -I wished to tell you again....</p> - -<p>—Enough! enough!! cried voices from -all parts of the hall.</p> - -<p>... That you must love your eagle.</p> - -<p>Several cried “Why?” ironically.</p> - -<p>—I hear, gentlemen, some one asks me -“Why?” I reply: Because then he will -become beautiful.</p> - -<p>—But if we become ugly?</p> - -<p>—Gentlemen, I do not speak here words -of self-interest....</p> - -<p>—One can see that.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[73]</a></span>—They are words of self-devotion. Gentlemen, -one must devote oneself to one’s -eagle.... (Agitation—many get up.) -Gentlemen, do not move: I will be personal. -It is not necessary to remind you of the -history of Cocles and Damocles.—All here -know it. Well—Well! I will tell them to -their faces: the secret of their lives is in -their self-devotion to their debt: You, -Cocles, to your blow; you, Damocles, to -your bank-note. Cocles, your duty was to -make your scar deeper and your empty -orbit emptier, oh! Cocles! yours, Damocles, -to keep your bank-note, to continue owing -it, owing it without shame, owing even more, -owing it with joy. There is your eagle; -there are other and more glorious ones. -But I tell you this: the eagle will devour us -anyway—vice or virtue—duty or passion,—cease -to be commonplace and you cannot -escape it. But....</p> - -<p>(Here the voice of Prometheus was barely -heard in the tumult)—but if you do not -feed your eagle lovingly he will remain<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[74]</a></span> -grey and miserable, invisible to all and sly; -then you will call him conscience, not worthy -of the torments he causes; without beauty.—Gentlemen, -you must love your eagle, -love him to make him beautiful; for it is -for his future beauty that you must love -your eagle....</p> - -<p>Now I have finished, gentlemen, my eagle -will make the collection. Gentlemen, you -must love my eagle.—In the meantime I -will let off some fireworks....</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>Thanks to the pyrotechnic diversion, -the assembly dispersed without too much -trouble; but Damocles took cold on coming -out of the hall.</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - - - - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[75]</a></span> -<h2 class="nobreak"> -THE ILLNESS OF DAMOCLES</h2></div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[76]</a></span></p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[77]</a></span></p> -<h3>I</h3> - -<p><span class="smcap">—You</span> know that he is not at all well, said -the waiter, seeing Prometheus a few days later.</p> - -<p>—Who?</p> - -<p>—Damocles—Oh! very bad:—it was -coming out after your lecture that he was -taken ill....</p> - -<p>—But what is the matter?</p> - -<p>—The doctors hesitate;—it is a very -unusual illness ... a shrinkage of the -spine....</p> - -<p>—The spine?</p> - -<p>—Yes, the spine.—At least, unless a -miracle happens he must get worse. He is -very low, I assure you, and you should go -and see him.</p> - -<p>—You go very often yourself?</p> - -<p>—I? Yes, every day.—He is very -anxious about Cocles; I bring him news -every day.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[78]</a></span>—Why doesn’t Cocles go to see him -himself?</p> - -<p>—Cocles?—He is too busy. Don’t you -remember your lecture? It has made an -extraordinary effect upon him. He talks of -nothing but self-devotion, and passes all his -time looking in the streets for another -blow, which may benefit some unknown -Damocles. In vain he offers his other -cheek.</p> - -<p>—Why not tell the Miglionaire?</p> - -<p>—I give him news every day. That is -really the reason why I visit Damocles -every day.</p> - -<p>—Why does he not go and see Damocles -himself?</p> - -<p>—That is what I tell him, but he refuses. -He does not wish to be known. And yet -Damocles would certainly get well immediately -if he knew his benefactor. I tell him -all this, but he insists upon keeping his incognito—and -I understand now that it is not -Damocles but his illness which interests -him.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[79]</a></span>—You spoke of introducing me?...</p> - -<p>—Yes, at once, if you like.</p> - -<p>They went off immediately.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[80]</a></span></p> - - -<h3>II</h3> - -<p>Not knowing him ourselves, we have -decided not to say very much about the -waiter’s friend, Zeus, but just to report -these few remarks.</p> - - -<h4>INTERVIEW OF THE MIGLIONAIRE</h4> - -<p>The waiter:—Is it not true that you are -very rich?</p> - -<p>The Miglionaire, half turning towards -Prometheus:—I am richer than you can -ever imagine. You belong to me; he -belongs to me; everything belongs to me.—You -think I am a banker; I am really something -quite different. My effect on Paris is -hidden, but it is none the less important. -It is hidden because it is not continuous.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[81]</a></span> -Yes, I have above all the spirit of initiative. -I launch; then, once the affair is set going, -I leave it; I have nothing more to do with it.</p> - -<p>The waiter:—Isn’t it true that your -actions are gratuitous?</p> - -<p>The Miglionaire:—It is only I, only a -person whose fortune is infinite, who can -act with absolute disinterestedness; for man -it is impossible. From that comes my love -of gambling; I do not gamble for gain, you -understand—I gamble for the pleasure of -gambling. What could I gain that I do not -possess already? Even time.... Do you -know my age?</p> - -<p>Prometheus and the waiter:—You appear -still young, sir.</p> - -<p>The Miglionaire:—Well, do not interrupt -me, Prometheus.—Yes, I have a -passion for gambling. My game is to lend -to men. I lend, but it is not for pleasure. I -lend, but it is sinking the capital. I lend, -but with an air of giving.—I do not wish it -known that I lend. I play, but I hide my -game. I experiment; I play, as a Dutchman<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[82]</a></span> -sows his seed; as he plants a secret -bulb; that which I lend to men, that which -I plant in man, I amuse myself by watching -it grow; without that, man would be so -empty!—Let me tell you my most recent -experience. You will help me to analyse it. -Just listen, you will understand later.</p> - -<p>I went down into the street with the idea -of making some one suffer for a gift I -would make to another; to make one happy -by the suffering of the other. A blow and -a note of £20 was all that was necessary. -To one the blow, and to the other the note. -Is it clear? What is less clear is the way -of giving them.</p> - -<p>—I know it already, interrupted Prometheus.</p> - -<p>—Oh, really, you know of it, said -Zeus.</p> - -<p>—I have met both Damocles and Cocles; -it is precisely about them that I have come -to speak to you:—Damocles looks and calls -for you, he is very anxious; he is ill;—for -goodness’ sake go and see him.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[83]</a></span>—Sir, stop—said Zeus—I have no need -of advice from anybody.</p> - -<p>—What did I tell you? said the waiter.</p> - -<p>Prometheus was going away, but suddenly -turned again: Sir, pardon me. Excuse an -indiscreet question. Oh! show it to me, -I beg you! I should love so much to -see it....</p> - -<p>—What?</p> - -<p>—Your eagle.</p> - -<p>—But I have no eagle, sir.</p> - -<p>—No eagle? He has no eagle! But....</p> - -<p>—Not so much of one as I can hold in -the hollow of my hand. Eagles (and he -laughed), eagles! It is I who give them.</p> - -<p>Prometheus was stupefied.</p> - -<p>—Do you know what people say? the -waiter asked the banker.</p> - -<p>—What do they say?</p> - -<p>—That you are God.</p> - -<p>—I let them say so, said he.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[84]</a></span></p> - - -<h3>III</h3> - -<p>Prometheus went to see Damocles; and -then he went very often. He did not talk to -him every time; but in any case the waiter -gave him the news. One day he brought -Cocles with him.</p> - -<p>The waiter received them.</p> - -<p>—Well, how is he? asked Prometheus.</p> - -<p>—Bad. Very bad, replied the waiter. -For three days the miserable man has not -been able to take any food. His bank-note -torments him; he looks for it everywhere; -he thinks he may have eaten it;—he -takes a purgative and thinks to find it -in his stool. When his reason returns and -he remembers his adventure, he is again in -despair. He has a grudge against you, -Cocles, because he thinks you have so complicated -his debt that he no longer knows -where he is. Most of the time he is<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[85]</a></span> -delirious. At night there are three of us to -watch him, but he keeps leaping upon his -bed, which prevents us sleeping.</p> - -<p>—Can we see him? said Cocles.</p> - -<p>—Yes, but you will find him changed. -He is devoured by anxiety. He has become -thin, thin, thin. Will you recognize him?—And -will he recognize you?</p> - -<p>They entered on the tips of their toes.</p> - - -<h4>THE LAST DAYS OF DAMOCLES</h4> - -<p>Damocles’ bedroom smelt horribly of -medicines. Low and very narrow, it was -lighted gloomily by two night-lights. In an -alcove, covered with innumerable blankets, -one could see Damocles tossing about. He -spoke all the time, although there was no one -near him. His voice was hoarse and thick. -Full of horror Prometheus and Cocles looked -at each other; he did not hear them approach -and continued his moaning as if he were alone.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[86]</a></span>—And from that day, he was saying, -it seemed to me, both that my life began to -have another meaning and that I could no -longer live! That hated bank-note I believed -I owed it to every one and I dared not -give it to any one—without depriving all the -others. I only dreamed of getting rid of -it—but how?—The Savings Bank! but -this increased my trouble; my debt was augmented -by the interest on the money; and, -on the other hand, the idea of letting it -stagnate was intolerable to me; so I thought -it best to circulate the sum; I carried it -always upon me; regularly every week I -changed the note into silver, and then the -silver into another note. Nothing is lost -or gained in this exchange. It is circular -insanity.—And to this was added another -torture: that it was through a blow given to -another that I received this note!</p> - -<p>One day, you know well, I met you in -a restaurant....</p> - -<p>—He is speaking of you, said the waiter.</p> - -<p>—The eagle of Prometheus broke the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[87]</a></span> -window of the restaurant and put out -Cocles’ eye.... Saved!!—Gratuitously, -fortuitously, providentially! I will slip my -bank-note into the interstices of these events. -No more debt! Saved! Ah! gentlemen! -what an error.... It was from that day that -I became a dying man. How can I explain -this to you? Will you ever understand my -anguish? I am still in debt for this note, -and now it is no longer in my possession! -I tried like a coward to get rid of my debt, -but I have not acquitted it. In my nightmares -I awake covered with perspiration. -Kneeling down, I cry aloud: Lord! Lord! -to whom do I owe this? I know nothing -of it, but I owe—owing is like duty. Duty, -gentlemen, is a horrible thing; look at me, -I am dying of it.</p> - -<p>And now I am more tormented than ever -because I have passed this debt on to you, -Cocles.... Cocles! it does not belong to -you that eye, as the money it was bought -with did not belong to me. And what hast -thou that thou didst not receive? says the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[88]</a></span> -Bible ... received from whom? whom?? -Whom??... My distress is intolerable.</p> - -<p>The wretched man spoke in short, sharp -jerks; his voice grew inarticulate, choked as -it was by gasps, sobs and tears. Anxiously -Prometheus and Cocles listened; they took -each other’s hand and trembled. Damocles -said, seeming to see them:</p> - -<p>Debt is a terrible duty, gentlemen ... but -how much more terrible is the remorse of -having wished to evade a duty.... As if -the debt could cease to exist because it was -transferred to another.... But your eye -burns you, Cocles!—Cocles!! I am certain -it burns you, your glass eye; tear it -out!—If it does not burn you, it ought -to burn you, for it is not yours—your -eye ... and if it is not yours it must be -your brother’s ... whose is it? whose? -Whose??</p> - -<p>The miserable man wept; he became -delirious and lost strength; now and again -fixing his eyes on Prometheus and Cocles -he seemed to recognize them, crying:</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[89]</a></span>—But understand me for pity’s sake! -The pity I claim from you is not simply a -compress on my forehead, a bowl of fresh -water, a soothing drink; it is to understand -me. Help me to understand myself, for -pity’s sake! <i>This</i> which has come to me -from I know not where, to whom do I owe -it? to whom?? to Whom??—And, in -order to cease one day from owing it one -day, believing, I made with <i>this</i> a present to -others! To others!!—to Cocles—the -gift of an eye!! but it is not yours, that -eye, Cocles! Cocles!! give it back. Give -it back, but to whom? to whom? to -Whom??</p> - -<p>Not wishing to hear more, Cocles and -Prometheus went away.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[90]</a></span></p> - - -<h3>IV</h3> - -<p>—There, you see, said Cocles, coming -down the stairs, the fate of a man who has -grown rich by another’s suffering.</p> - -<p>—But is it true that you suffer? asked -Prometheus.</p> - -<p>—From my eye occasionally, said Cocles, -but from the blow, no more; I prefer to have -received it. It does not burn any more; -it has revealed to me my goodness. I am -flattered by it; I am pleased about it. I -never cease to think that my pain was useful -to my neighbour and that it brought him £20.</p> - -<p>—But the neighbour is dying of it, Cocles, -said Prometheus.</p> - -<p>—Did you not tell him that one must -nourish one’s eagle? What do you expect? -Damocles and I never could understand -each other, our points of view are entirely -opposed.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[91]</a></span>Prometheus said good-bye to Cocles and -ran to the house of Zeus, the banker.</p> - -<p>—For goodness’ sake, show yourself! he -said, or at least make yourself known. The -miserable man is dying. I could understand -your killing him since that is your -pleasure; but let him know at least who -it is that is killing him—that he may be at -peace.</p> - -<p>The Miglionaire replied:—I do not wish -to lose my prestige.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[92]</a></span></p> - - -<h3>V</h3> - -<p>The end of Damocles was admirable; he -pronounced a little while before his last hour -some words which drew tears from the most -unbelieving and made pious people say: -How edifying! The most notable sentiment -was the one expressed so well in these words: -I hope at any rate that he will not have felt -the loss of it.</p> - -<p>—Who? asked some one.</p> - -<p>—He, said Damocles, dying; he who -gave me ... something.</p> - -<p>—No! it was Providence, cleverly replied -the waiter.</p> - -<p>Damocles died after hearing these comforting -words.</p> - - -<h4>THE FUNERAL</h4> - -<p>—Oh! said Prometheus to Cocles, leaving -the chamber of death,—all that is<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[93]</a></span> -horrible! The death of Damocles upsets -me. Is it true that my lecture can have -been the cause of his illness?</p> - -<p>—I cannot say, said the waiter, but I -know that at any rate he was greatly moved -by all that you said of your eagle.</p> - -<p>—Of our eagle, replied Cocles.</p> - -<p>—I was so convinced, said Prometheus.</p> - -<p>—That is why you convinced him.... -Your words were very strong.</p> - -<p>—I thought that no one paid any attention -and I insisted.... If I had known that he -would listen so attentively....</p> - -<p>—What would you have said?</p> - -<p>—The same thing, stammered Prometheus.</p> - -<p>—Then?</p> - -<p>—But I would not say the same thing now.</p> - -<p>—Are you no longer convinced?</p> - -<p>—Damocles was too much so.... I -have other ideas about my eagle.</p> - -<p>—By the way, where is he?</p> - -<p>—Do not fear, Cocles. I have my eye -on him.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[94]</a></span>—Good-bye. I shall wear mourning, -said Cocles. When shall we see each other -again?</p> - -<p>—But ... at the funeral, I suppose. I -will make a speech there. I ought to repair -in some way the damage I have done. And -afterwards I invite you to the funeral feast -in the restaurant exactly where we saw -Damocles for the first time.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[95]</a></span></p> - - -<h3>VI</h3> - -<p>At the funeral there were not many -people; Damocles was very little known; -his death passed unnoticed except for those -few interested in his history. Prometheus, -the waiter, and Cocles found themselves at -the cemetery, also a few idle listeners of the -lecture. Every one looked at Prometheus, -as they knew he was to speak; and they -said: “What will he say?” for they remembered -what he had said before. Before -Prometheus began to speak great astonishment -was caused by the fact that he was -unrecognizable; he was fat, fresh, smiling; -smiling so much that his conduct was -judged a little indecent, as smiling still he -advanced to the edge of the grave, turned -his back on it, and spoke these simple -words:</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[96]</a></span></p> - - -<h4>THE HISTORY OF TITYRUS</h4> - -<p>—Gentlemen who are kind enough to listen -to me, the words of Scripture which serve as -text for my brief discourse to-day are these:</p> - -<p><i>Let the dead bury their dead.</i> We will -therefore occupy ourselves no more with -Damocles.—The last time that I saw you -all together was to hear me speak of my -eagle; Damocles died of it; leave the dead -... it is nevertheless because of him, or rather -thanks to his death, that now I have killed -my eagle....</p> - -<p>—Killed his eagle!!! cried every one.</p> - -<p>—That reminds me of an anecdote.... -Let us grant I have said nothing.</p> - - -<h5>I</h5> - -<p>In the beginning was Tityrus.</p> - -<p>And Tityrus being alone and completely<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[97]</a></span> -surrounded by swamps was bored.—Then -Menalcas passed by, who put an idea into -the head of Tityrus, a seed in the swamp -before him. And this idea was the seed and -this seed was the Idea. And with the help -of God the seed germinated and became a -little plant, and Tityrus in the evening and -in the morning knelt before it, thanking -God for having given it to him. And the -plant became tall and great, and as it had -powerful roots it very soon completely dried -up the soil around it, and thus Tityrus had -at last firm earth on which to set his feet, -rest his head, and strengthen the works of -his hands.</p> - -<p>When this plant had grown to the height -of Tityrus, Tityrus tasted the joy of sleeping -stretched under its shadow. Now, this -tree, being an oak-tree, grew enormously; -so much so that soon Tityrus’ hands were -no longer sufficient to till and hoe the earth -around the oak—to water the oak, to prune, -to trim, to decorticate, to destroy the caterpillars, -and to ensure in due season the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[98]</a></span> -picking of its many and diverse fruits. He -engaged, therefore, a tiller and a hoer, and -a trimmer and a decorticator, and a man to -destroy the caterpillars, and a man to water -the oak, and two or three fruit boys. And -as each had to keep strictly to his own -speciality, there was a chance of each person’s -work being well done.</p> - -<p>In order to arrange for the paying of the -wages, Tityrus had to have an accountant, -who soon shared with a cashier the worries -of Tityrus’ fortune; this grew like the oak.</p> - -<p>Certain arguments arising between the -trimmer, and the pruner, and the depilator—as -to where each man’s work began and -finished, Tityrus saw the necessity of an -arbitrator, who called for two lawyers to -expose both sides of the question.</p> - -<p>Tityrus took a secretary to record their -judgments, and as they were only recorded -for future reference, there had to be a -keeper of the rolls.</p> - -<p>On the soil meanwhile houses appeared -one by one, and it was necessary to have<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[99]</a></span> -police for the streets, to guard against excesses. -Tityrus, overcome by work, began -to feel ill. He sent for a doctor who told -him to take a wife—and finding the work -too much for him, Tityrus was forced to -choose a sheriff, and he himself was therefore -appointed mayor. From this time he -had only very few hours of leisure, when he -could fish with a line from the windows of -his house, which still continued to open -on the swamp.</p> - -<p>Then Tityrus instituted bank holidays so -that his people might enjoy themselves; but -as this was expensive and no one was very -rich, Tityrus, in order to be able to lend -them all money, first began by raising it -from each of them separately.</p> - -<p>Now the oak in the middle of the plain -(for in spite of the town, in spite of the -effort of so many men, it had never ceased -to be the plain), the oak, as I said, in the -middle of the plain, had no difficulty in -being placed so that one of its sides was in -shadow and the other in the sunshine.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[100]</a></span> -Under the oak then, on the shady side -Tityrus rendered justice; on the sunny side -he fulfilled his natural necessities. And -Tityrus was happy, for he felt his life was -useful to others and fully occupied.</p> - - -<h5>II</h5> - -<p>Man’s effort can be intensified. Tityrus’ -activity seemed to grow with encouragement; -his natural ingenuity caused him to -think of other means of employment. He -set to work to furnish and decorate his -house. The suitable character of the hangings -and the convenience of each object -were much admired. Industrious, he excelled -in empiricism; he even made a -little hook to hang his sponges on the -wall, which after four days he found perfectly -useless. Then Tityrus built another -room by the side of his room, where he -could arrange the affairs of the nation; the -two rooms had the same entrance, to indicate<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[101]</a></span> -that their interests were the same; but -because of the one entrance which supplied -both rooms with air, the two chimneys -would not draw at the same time, so that -when it was cold and a fire was lighted -in one, the other was full of smoke. The -days therefore that he wished for a fire, -Tityrus was forced to open his window.</p> - -<p>As Tityrus protected everything and -worked for the propagation of the species, a -time came when the slugs crawled on his -garden paths in such abundance that he did -not know where to step for fear of crushing -them and finally resigned.</p> - -<p>He invited a woman with a circulating -library to come to the town, with whom he -opened a subscription. And as she was -called Angèle he became accustomed to go -there every three days and pass his evenings -with her. And by this means Tityrus learnt -metaphysics, algebra, and theodicy. Tityrus -and Angèle began to practise together successfully -various accomplishments, and Angèle -showing particular taste for music, they<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[102]</a></span> -hired a grand piano upon which Angèle -played the little tunes which between times -he composed for her.</p> - -<p>Tityrus said to Angèle: So many occupations -will kill me. I am at the end of my -tether; I feel that I am getting used up, -these consolidated interests intensify my -scruples, and as my scruples grow greater I -grow less. What is to be done?</p> - -<p>—Shall we go away? said Angèle to him.</p> - -<p>—I cannot go: I have my oak.</p> - -<p>—Suppose you were to leave it, said Angèle.</p> - -<p>—Leave my oak! You don’t mean it!</p> - -<p>—Is it not large enough now to grow alone?</p> - -<p>—But I am attached to it.</p> - -<p>—Become unattached, replied Angèle.</p> - -<p>And a little while after, having realized -strongly that after all, occupations, responsibilities, -and other scruples could hold him -no more than the oak, Tityrus smiled and -went off, taking with him the cash-box and -Angèle, and towards the end of the day -walked with her down the boulevard which -leads from the Madeleine to the Opéra.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[103]</a></span></p> - - -<h5>III</h5> - -<p>That evening the boulevard had a strange -look. One felt that something unusually -grave was going to happen. An enormous -crowd, serious and anxious, overflowed the -pavement, spreading on to the road, which -the Paris police, placed at intervals, with -great trouble kept free. Before the restaurants, -the terraces disproportionately enlarged -by the placing of chairs and tables, -made the obstruction more complete and -rendered circulation impossible. Now and -again an onlooker impatiently stood upon -his chair for an instant—the time that one -could beg him to get down. Evidently all -were waiting; one felt without doubt that -between the two pavements upon the protected -route something was going to pass. -Having found a table with great difficulty -and paid a large price for it, Angèle and -Tityrus installed themselves in front of two -glasses of beer and asked the waiter:</p> - -<p>—What are they all waiting for?</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[104]</a></span>—Where does your lordship come from? -said the waiter. Does not your lordship -know that every one is waiting to see Melibœus? -He will pass by between 5 and 6 -... and there—listen: I believe one can -already hear his flute.</p> - -<p>From the depths of the boulevard the -frail notes of a pipe were heard. The -crowd thrilled with still greater attention. -The sound increased, came nearer, grew -louder and louder.</p> - -<p>—Oh, how it moves me! said Angèle.</p> - -<p>The setting sun soon threw its rays from -one end of the boulevard to the other. And, -as if issuing from the splendour of the -setting sun, Melibœus was at last seen -advancing—preceded by the simple sound -of his flute.</p> - -<p>At first nothing could be clearly distinguished -but his figure, but when he drew -nearer:</p> - -<p>—Oh, how charming he is! said Angèle. -In the meantime Melibœus as he arrived -opposite Tityrus, ceased to play his flute,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[105]</a></span> -stopped suddenly, saw Angèle, and every -one realized that he was naked.</p> - -<p>Oh! said Angèle, leaning upon Tityrus, -how beautiful he is! what strong thighs he -has! His playing is adorable!</p> - -<p>Tityrus felt a little uncomfortable.</p> - -<p>—Ask him where he is going, said -Angèle.</p> - -<p>—Where are you going? questioned -Tityrus.</p> - -<p>Melibœus replied:—Eo Romam.</p> - -<p>—What does he say? asked Angèle.</p> - -<p>Tityrus:—You would not understand, my -dear.</p> - -<p>—But you can explain it to me, said -Angèle.</p> - -<p>—Romam, insisted Melibœus.... Urbem -quam dicunt Romam.</p> - -<p>Angèle:—Oh, it sounds delicious! What -does it mean?</p> - -<p>Tityrus:—But my dear Angèle, I assure -you it is not so delightful as it sounds; -it means quite simply that he is going to -Rome.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[106]</a></span>—Rome! said Angèle dreamily. Oh, I -should love so much to see Rome!</p> - -<p>Melibœus, resuming his flute, once more -began to play his primæval melody, and at -the sound, Angèle, in a passion of excitement, -raised herself, stood up, drew near; -and as Melibœus’ arm was bent to her hand, -she took it, and thus the two together went -on their way along the boulevard; further, -further they went, gradually vanished from -sight, and disappeared into the finality of -the twilit dusk.</p> - -<p>The crowd, now unbridled in its agitation, -became more and more tumultuous. On all -sides one heard the questions: What did he -say?—What did he do?—Who was that -woman?—And when, a few minutes later, -the evening papers appeared, a furious curiosity -swept over them like a cyclone, and it -was suddenly divulged that the woman was -Angèle, and that this Melibœus was a naked -person who was going to Italy.</p> - -<p>Then, all their curiosity having died -down, the crowd streamed off like water<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[107]</a></span> -flowing away and the main boulevards were -deserted.</p> - -<p>And Tityrus found himself alone, completely -surrounded by the swamp.</p> - -<p>Let us grant that I have said nothing.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>An irrepressible laughter shook the audience -for several seconds.</p> - -<p>—Gentlemen, I am happy that my story -has amused you, said Prometheus, laughing -also. Since the death of Damocles I have -found the secret of laughter. For the present -I have finished, gentlemen. Let the -dead bury the dead and let us go quickly to -lunch.</p> - -<p>He took the waiter by one arm and Cocles -by the other; they all left the cemetery; -after passing the gates, the rest of the -assembly dispersed.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[108]</a></span>—Pardon me, said Cocles. Your story -was charming, and you made us laugh.... -But I do not quite understand the -connexion....</p> - -<p>—If there had been more you would not -have laughed so much, said Prometheus. -Do not look for too much meaning in all -this. I wanted above all to distract you, -and I am happy to have done so; surely -I owed you that? I wearied you so the -other day.</p> - -<p>They found themselves on the boulevards.</p> - -<p>—Where are we going? said the waiter.</p> - -<p>—To your restaurant, if you do not mind, -in memory of our first meeting.</p> - -<p>—You are passing it, said the waiter.</p> - -<p>—I do not recognize it.</p> - -<p>—It is all new now.</p> - -<p>—Oh, I forgot!... I forgot that my -eagle.... Don’t trouble: he will never do -it again.</p> - - - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[109]</a></span>—Is it true, said Cocles, what you say?</p> - -<p>—What?</p> - -<p>—That you have killed him?</p> - -<p>—And that we are going to eat him?... -Do you doubt it? said Prometheus. Have -you looked at me?—When he was alive, -did I dare to laugh?—Was I not horribly -thin?</p> - -<p>—Certainly.</p> - -<p>—He fed on me long enough. I think -now that it is my turn.</p> - -<p>—A table! Sit down! Sit down, gentlemen!</p> - -<p>—Waiter, do not serve us: as a last -remembrance, take the place of Damocles.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>The meal was more joyful than it is -possible to say. The eagle was found to be -delicious, and at dessert they all drank his -health.</p> - -<p>—Has he then been useless? asked one.</p> - -<p>—Do not say that, Cocles!—his flesh -has nourished us.—When I questioned him -he answered nothing, but I eat him without<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[110]</a></span> -bearing him a grudge: if he had made me -suffer less, he would have been less fat; less -fat, he would have been less delectable.</p> - -<p>—Of his past beauty, what is there left.</p> - -<p>—I have kept all his feathers.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p><i>It is with one of them that I write this little -book. May you, rare friend, not find it too -foolish.</i></p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - - - - - - -<div class="chapter"> -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[111]</a></span> -<h2 class="nobreak">EPILOGUE</h2></div> - -<blockquote> -<p class="center">TO ENDEAVOUR TO MAKE THE READER BELIEVE -THAT IF THIS BOOK IS SUCH AS IT IS, IT IS -NOT THE FAULT OF THE AUTHOR</p> - -<p class="center">One does not write the books one wants to.<br /> - - -<span class="gapleft2"><i>Journal des Goncourt.</i></span></p></blockquote> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[112]</a></span></p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[113]</a></span></p> - - -<p><i>The history of Leda made such a great stir -and covered Tyndarus with so much glory -that Minos was not much disturbed to hear -Pasiphaë say to him: “It can’t be helped. -I do not like men.”</i></p> - -<p><i>But later: “It is very provoking (and it -has not been easy!) I trusted that a God had -hidden there. If Zeus had done his share I -should have produced a Dioscurus; thanks to -this animal, I have only given birth to a calf.”</i></p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<p class="center"> -PRINTED AT<br /> -THE COMPLETE PRESS<br /> -WEST NORWOOD<br /> -LONDON</p> - -<hr class="chap" /> - -<div class="transnote"> - -<p class="ph2">TRANSCRIBER’S NOTE:</p> - -<p>The cover image for this eBook was created by the transcriber and is entered into the public domain.</p> -</div> - - - - - - - - -<pre> - - - - - -End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Prometheus Illbound, by André Gide - -*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PROMETHEUS ILLBOUND *** - -***** This file should be named 60914-h.htm or 60914-h.zip ***** -This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: - http://www.gutenberg.org/6/0/9/1/60914/ - -Produced by Tim Lindell, David E. 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