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diff --git a/old/60914-0.txt b/old/60914-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index 6f803b7..0000000 --- a/old/60914-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,2356 +0,0 @@ -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: UTF-8 - -*** 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.) - - - - - - - - - - PROMETHEUS - ILLBOUND - - BY ANDRÉ GIDE - - - LITERAL TRANSLATION FROM THE - FRENCH BY - LILIAN ROTHERMERE - - - LONDON - CHATTO AND WINDUS - 1919 - - - - -PREFACE - - -The 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. - -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.” - -That is the reason why there is a determinist atmosphere in his books -and that even the disinterested act appears as the reaction 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. - -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 _concept_ of eternal desire and -detachment--a mind very near that of Nietzsche. - -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: the feelings are -only described by their reaction on the brain. And this applies to -nearly the whole work of Gide. - -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 _idea_ of his possessions. - -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.” - -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. - -The exaltation of Gide is a Nietzschean exaltation--it is an exaltation -caused by the power of mind. - -The definition of genius he gives in “Prétextes” is very characteristic -from that point of view. He calls it: “Le sentiment de la ressource.” - -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. - -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. - - LILIAN ROTHERMERE. - - - - - PROMETHEUS - ILLBOUND - - Eagle, vulture or dove. - VICTOR HUGO. - - - - -In the month of May 189..., at two o’clock in the afternoon, this -occurred which might appear strange: - -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 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. - -I have been told since that it was Zeus, the banker. - -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. - - - - -A CHRONICLE OF PRIVATE MORALITY - - -I - - -I will not speak of public morals, for there are none, but this reminds -me of an anecdote: - - * * * * * - -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?” - - -THE HISTORY OF THE WAITER AND THE MIGLIONAIRE - ---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. - -Then Prometheus asked: What are they looking for? - -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?... - ---No, said Prometheus. - ---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.... - -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 -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. - -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 does he do that? ... and yet I am not a -determinist ... but that reminds me of an anecdote: - ---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! - ---Hey? said Prometheus. - ---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. - -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: - ---Pardon, sir, do you not know some one? - -The other:--Yes, several. - -The miglionaire: Then, sir, will you have the kindness to write his -name on this envelope; here is a table, pens, and a pencil.... - -The other, good-naturedly, writes, then:--Now, sir, will you explain -yourself...? - -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. - -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 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.... - ---Prometheus, said Prometheus simply. - ---Prometheus! I was right, his lordship is a stranger here ... and his -lordship’s occupation is...? - ---I do nothing, said Prometheus. - ---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. - ---It is so long ago, stammered Prometheus. - ---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...? - ---Making matches, murmured Prometheus, blushing. - -There followed a painful silence, the waiter understanding that he -should not have insisted, Prometheus feeling that he should not have -answered. - -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? - ---Nothing, again said Prometheus. - ---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!... - -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. - -And when they had sat down: - - -II - ---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? - ---It is quite unintentional, said Prometheus. - ---Shall I continue? - ---Yes, please do. - ---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 restaurant, where the -food is bad, if conversation does not suit you? - -Prometheus was very tired: the waiter leant over and whispered: That is -Cocles. The one who is going to speak is Damocles. - -Damocles said: - - -THE HISTORY OF DAMOCLES - -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 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. - -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. - - -III - -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 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. - -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: _Cur, unde, quo, qua?_--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 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. - -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? - -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; 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.... - -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. - -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 was I, he added, -pointing to the envelope, who wrote your address. - ---But how did you know my name, cried Damocles, rather annoyed by the -incident. - ---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: - - -THE HISTORY OF COCLES - -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. - -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 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. - -In my astonishment I lost sight of my adversary. When I came to myself, -I was surrounded by a crowd. All spoke at once. 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. - -The tumefaction of my face confined me to my room for a week. I passed -my time thinking: - -Why did he strike me? - -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. - -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. - -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, I never saw him -again, and if I avoided him it was without knowing it. - -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. - ---Ah, but allow me! said Damocles. - ---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.... - ---But.... - ---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.... - ---But.... - ---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.... - ---But, sir.... - ---Do not call me sir. - ---But, my dear Cocles. - ---Say simply Cocles. - ---But once again, my best Cocles.... - ---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. - -The conversation becoming disagreeably personal, the waiter at this -moment showed his tact. - - -IV - -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. - -The irritation of Damocles and Cocles joined forces. - ---But you say nothing--they cried. - - -PROMETHEUS SPEAKS - ---Oh, gentlemen, anything that I can say has so little importance.... -I do not really see how ... and then the more I 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.... - ---But before you came here, said Cocles. - ---You must have been somewhere, added Damocles. - ---Yes, I admit it, said Prometheus.... But again, once more, it has -absolutely no connexion.... - ---Never mind, said Cocles, we came here to talk. We have both of us, -Damocles and I, already given our share; you alone bring nothing; you -listen; it is not fair. It is time to speak Mr....? - -The waiter, feeling instinctively that the moment had come for the -introduction, quietly slipped in the name to complete the sentence: - ---Prometheus--he said simply. - ---Prometheus, repeated Damocles.--Excuse me, sir, but it seems to me -that that name already.... - ---Oh! interrupted Prometheus quickly, that is not of the slightest -importance. - ---But if there is nothing of importance, impatiently cried the other -two, why have you come here, dear Mr.... Mr....? - ---Prometheus, replied Prometheus simply. - ---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 you? -What have you that nobody else possesses? Why do you call yourself -Prometheus? - -Drowned beneath this flow of questions Prometheus bent his head and -slowly and in a serious voice stammered...: - ---What have I, gentlemen?--What have I?--Oh, I have an eagle. - ---A what? - ---Eagle--Vulture perhaps--opinions differ. - ---An eagle! That’s funny!--an eagle ... where is he? - ---You insist on seeing it, said Prometheus. - ---Yes, they cried, if it is not too indiscreet. - - * * * * * - -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: - - -HISTORY OF THE EAGLE - -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. - -And Prometheus forthwith undid his waistcoat and offered his liver to -the bird. - - -V - -There was a great disturbance. Voices now mingled confusedly, for some -other people had come into the restaurant. - ---But for goodness’ sake, take care! cried Cocles. - -His remark was unheard beneath the loud cries of: - ---That! an eagle! I don’t think!! Look at that poor gaunt bird! That -... an eagle!--Not much!! at the most, a conscience. - -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. - -Others, nevertheless, made a fuss and whispered insinuatingly to -Prometheus: But, sir, I hope you do not think that this eagle -distinguishes you in any way. An eagle, shall I tell you?--an eagle, we -all have one. - ---But ... said another. - ---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. - -Prometheus, confused, murmured: Excuse me, gentlemen,--Oh! I am really -sorry. What can I do? - ---You ought to get rid of it before you come in, sir. - -And some said: Smother it. - -And others: Sell it. The newspaper offices are there for nothing else, -sir. - -And in the tumult which followed no one noticed Damocles, who suddenly -asked the waiter for the bill. - -The waiter gave him the following: - - _3 lunches (with conversation)_ Fr. 30.00 - _Shop window_ 450.00 - _A glass eye for Cocles_ 3.50 - -... and keep the rest for yourself, said Damocles, handing the -bank-note to the waiter. Then he quickly made off, beaming with joy. - - * * * * * - -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?... - - - - -THE IMPRISONMENT OF PROMETHEUS - - -I - -It was a few days after this that Prometheus, denounced by the -over-zealous waiter, found himself in prison for making matches without -a licence. - -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. - - * * * * * - -The waiter paid him a visit. - ---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. - ---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. - ---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? - ---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. - ---Is he unwell? asked Prometheus. - ---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 wears it gracefully; but add how -he must have suffered.... - ---He suffers then? - ---Yes, perhaps, when people do not sympathize with him. - ---But then, if Cocles is well and does not suffer, why is Damocles -anxious? - ---Because of that which Cocles should have suffered. - ---You advise me then strongly.... - ---To say it, yes, but Damocles thinks it, and that’s what kills him. - ---What else does he do? - ---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. - ---And Cocles? - ---He says the same.... But he has become rich. - ---Really ... how? - ---Oh! I do not know exactly;--but he has been talked about in the -papers; and a subscription has been opened in his favour. - ---And what does he do with it? - ---He is an artful fellow. With the money collected he thinks of -founding a hospital. - ---A hospital? - ---Yes, a small hospital for the one eyed. He has made himself director -of it. - ---Ah bah! cried Prometheus; you interest me enormously. - ---I hoped you would be interested, said the waiter. - ---And tell me ... the Miglionaire? - ---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.... - ---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? - ---My goodness no, pretended the waiter. All that I know is that it is -only preliminary detention. After they have condemned you, you will -know. - ---Well, so much the better! said Prometheus. I always prefer to know. - ---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? - ---Bless me! I have thought no more of him, said Prometheus. But when -the waiter had gone Prometheus began to think of his eagle. - - -HE MUST INCREASE BUT I MUST DECREASE - -And as Prometheus was bored in the evening, he called his eagle.--The -eagle came. - ---I have waited a long time for thee, said Prometheus. - -Why didst thou not call me before? replied the eagle. - -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. - ---Faithful bird, he said to him, dost thou suffer?--tell me: what is -the matter? - ---I am hungry, said the eagle. - ---Eat, said Prometheus, uncovering his liver. - -The bird ate. - ---I suffer, said Prometheus. - -But the eagle said nothing more that day. - - -II - -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. - ---How late thou comest, he said, caressing his feathers. - ---It is because I cannot yet fly very fast, said the bird. I skim the -ground.... - ---Why? - ---I am so weak! - ---What dost thou want to make thee fly faster? - ---Thy liver. - ---Very well, eat. - -The next day the eagle had eight more feathers and a few days after he -arrived before the dawn. Prometheus himself became very thin. - ---Tell me of the world, he said to the eagle. What has happened to all -the others? - ---Oh! now I fly very high, replied the eagle; I see nothing but the sky -and thee. - -His wings had grown slowly bigger. - ---Lovely bird, what hast thou to tell me this morning? - ---I have carried my hunger through the air. - ---Eagle, wilt thou never be less cruel? - ---No! But I may become very beautiful. - -Prometheus, enamoured of the future beauty of his eagle, gave him each -day more to eat. - -One evening the eagle did not leave him. - -The next day it was the same. - -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 him as he desired.--The eagle did not stir night or day. - ---Sweet eagle, who would have believed it? - ---Believed what? - ---That our love could be so charming. - ---Ah! Prometheus.... - ---Tell me, my sweet bird! Why am I shut up here? - ---What does that matter to thee? Am I not with thee? - ---Yes; it matters little! but art thou pleased with me, beautiful eagle? - ---Yes, if thou thinkest I am beautiful. - - -III - -It was spring-time; around the bars of the tower the fragrant wisteria -was in flower. - ---One day we will go away, said the eagle. - ---Really? cried Prometheus. - ---Because I am now very strong and thou art thinner. I can carry thee. - ---Eagle, my eagle!... Take me away. - -And the eagle carried him away. - - -A CHAPTER WHILE WAITING THE NEXT ONE - -That evening Cocles and Damocles met each other. They chatted together; -but with a certain embarrassment. - ---What can you expect? said Cocles, our points of view are so opposed. - ---Do you think so? replied Damocles. My only desire is that we -understand each other. - ---You say that, but you only understand yourself. - ---And you, you do not even listen to what I say. - ---I know all that you would say. - ---Say it then if you know it. - ---You pretend to know it better than I do. - ---Alas! Cocles, you get cross;--but for the love of God tell me what -ought I to do? - ---Ah! nothing more for me, I beg you; you have already given me a glass -eye.... - ---Glass, in lack of a better, my Cocles. - ---Yes--after having half blinded me. - ---But it was not I, dear Cocles. - ---It was more or less; and in any case you can pay for the eye--thanks -to my blow. - ---Cocles! forget the past!... - ---No doubt it pleases you to forget. - ---That’s not what I mean to say to you. - ---But what do you mean to say then? Go on, speak! - ---You do not listen to me. - ---Because I know all that you would say!... - -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: - - THIS EVENING AT 8 O’CLOCK - IN THE - HALL OF THE NEW MOONS - PROMETHEUS DELIVERED - WILL SPEAK OF - HIS - EAGLE - - _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 must see that, said Cocles. - ---I will go with you, said Damocles. - - -IV - -In the Hall of the New Moons, at eight o’clock precisely, the crowd -gathered. - -Cocles sat on the left; Damocles on the right; and the rest of the -public in the middle. - -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. - -In the hall there was a palpitating silence.... - - -THE PETITIO PRINCIPII - ---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: - -First head: One must have an eagle. - -Second head: In any case, we all have one. - -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. - ---Bravo! Bravo! cried Cocles. - -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: - - -V - ---However clever a rhetorician I may be gentlemen, in the presence of -such perspicacious minds as yours I cannot juggle away the inevitable -_petitio principii_ which awaits me at the beginning of this lecture. - -Gentlemen, try as we may, we cannot escape the _petitio principii_. -Now; what is a petition of principles? Gentlemen, I dare to say it: -Every _petitio principii_ is an affirmation of temperament; for where -principles are missing, there the temperament is affirmed. - -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 -must affirm itself. A fresh _petitio principii_, you will say. But I -have demonstrated that every _petitio principii_ 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. - -... 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. - -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. - -Prometheus drank a drop of water. The eagle pirouetted three times -round Prometheus and bowed. Prometheus went on: - - -CONTINUATION OF PROMETHEUS’ LECTURE - ---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. - -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. - - -VI - ---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. - -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. - -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 one day Asia -said to me: You should interest yourself in men. - -I first had to find them. - -I was willing enough to interest myself in them--but it was to pity -them. - -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. - -At these words, applause arose from various parts of the hall. All of a -sudden Prometheus broke into sobs. - -The eagle flapped his wings and cooed. - -With an agonizing gesture Prometheus opened his waistcoat and offered -his tortured liver to the bird. - -The applause redoubled. - -Then the eagle pirouetted three times round Prometheus, who drank a few -drops of water, and continued his lecture in these words: - - -VII - ---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, 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 for -better. The belief in progress, gentlemen, that was their eagle. Our -eagle is our reason for existence, gentlemen. - -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. - - -VIII - -Applause broke out here and there. Prometheus, abashed, excused himself: - ---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. - -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 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.... - - * * * * * - -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: - ---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 alone here?--All is silence!--All -is silence! - -What does it mean?... I have questioned in vain. Then turning towards -the audience: - -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? - -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.... - -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.... - -Perspiring, Prometheus wiped his face, drank some water, and added: - - -THE END OF PROMETHEUS’ LECTURE - ---I have only prepared my lecture up to this point.... - -... At these words there was a rustling among the audience; several, -feeling bored, wished to go out. - ---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 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. - -The fireworks were more or less effective. Nearly every one sat down -again. - ---But where was I? cried Prometheus. I counted upon getting under -weigh; disturbance has checked me. - ---So much the better, cried some one. - ---Ah! I know ... continued Prometheus. I wished to tell you again.... - ---Enough! enough!! cried voices from all parts of the hall. - -... That you must love your eagle. - -Several cried “Why?” ironically. - ---I hear, gentlemen, some one asks me “Why?” I reply: Because then he -will become beautiful. - ---But if we become ugly? - ---Gentlemen, I do not speak here words of self-interest.... - ---One can see that. - ---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.... - -(Here the voice of Prometheus was barely heard in the tumult)--but if -you do not feed your eagle lovingly he will remain 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.... - -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.... - - * * * * * - -Thanks to the pyrotechnic diversion, the assembly dispersed without too -much trouble; but Damocles took cold on coming out of the hall. - - - - -THE ILLNESS OF DAMOCLES - - -I - ---You know that he is not at all well, said the waiter, seeing -Prometheus a few days later. - ---Who? - ---Damocles--Oh! very bad:--it was coming out after your lecture that he -was taken ill.... - ---But what is the matter? - ---The doctors hesitate;--it is a very unusual illness ... a shrinkage -of the spine.... - ---The spine? - ---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. - ---You go very often yourself? - ---I? Yes, every day.--He is very anxious about Cocles; I bring him news -every day. - ---Why doesn’t Cocles go to see him himself? - ---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. - ---Why not tell the Miglionaire? - ---I give him news every day. That is really the reason why I visit -Damocles every day. - ---Why does he not go and see Damocles himself? - ---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. - ---You spoke of introducing me?... - ---Yes, at once, if you like. - -They went off immediately. - - -II - -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. - - -INTERVIEW OF THE MIGLIONAIRE - -The waiter:--Is it not true that you are very rich? - -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. 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. - -The waiter:--Isn’t it true that your actions are gratuitous? - -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? - -Prometheus and the waiter:--You appear still young, sir. - -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 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. - -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. - ---I know it already, interrupted Prometheus. - ---Oh, really, you know of it, said Zeus. - ---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. - ---Sir, stop--said Zeus--I have no need of advice from anybody. - ---What did I tell you? said the waiter. - -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.... - ---What? - ---Your eagle. - ---But I have no eagle, sir. - ---No eagle? He has no eagle! But.... - ---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. - -Prometheus was stupefied. - ---Do you know what people say? the waiter asked the banker. - ---What do they say? - ---That you are God. - ---I let them say so, said he. - - -III - -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. - -The waiter received them. - ---Well, how is he? asked Prometheus. - ---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 delirious. -At night there are three of us to watch him, but he keeps leaping upon -his bed, which prevents us sleeping. - ---Can we see him? said Cocles. - ---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? - -They entered on the tips of their toes. - - -THE LAST DAYS OF DAMOCLES - -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. - ---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! - -One day, you know well, I met you in a restaurant.... - ---He is speaking of you, said the waiter. - ---The eagle of Prometheus broke the 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. - -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 Bible ... received from whom? -whom?? Whom??... My distress is intolerable. - -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: - -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?? - -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: - ---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! _This_ 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 _this_ 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?? - -Not wishing to hear more, Cocles and Prometheus went away. - - -IV - ---There, you see, said Cocles, coming down the stairs, the fate of a -man who has grown rich by another’s suffering. - ---But is it true that you suffer? asked Prometheus. - ---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. - ---But the neighbour is dying of it, Cocles, said Prometheus. - ---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. - -Prometheus said good-bye to Cocles and ran to the house of Zeus, the -banker. - ---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. - -The Miglionaire replied:--I do not wish to lose my prestige. - - -V - -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. - ---Who? asked some one. - ---He, said Damocles, dying; he who gave me ... something. - ---No! it was Providence, cleverly replied the waiter. - -Damocles died after hearing these comforting words. - - -THE FUNERAL - ---Oh! said Prometheus to Cocles, leaving the chamber of death,--all -that is horrible! The death of Damocles upsets me. Is it true that my -lecture can have been the cause of his illness? - ---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. - ---Of our eagle, replied Cocles. - ---I was so convinced, said Prometheus. - ---That is why you convinced him.... Your words were very strong. - ---I thought that no one paid any attention and I insisted.... If I had -known that he would listen so attentively.... - ---What would you have said? - ---The same thing, stammered Prometheus. - ---Then? - ---But I would not say the same thing now. - ---Are you no longer convinced? - ---Damocles was too much so.... I have other ideas about my eagle. - ---By the way, where is he? - ---Do not fear, Cocles. I have my eye on him. - ---Good-bye. I shall wear mourning, said Cocles. When shall we see each -other again? - ---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. - - -VI - -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: - - -THE HISTORY OF TITYRUS - ---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: - -_Let the dead bury their dead._ 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.... - ---Killed his eagle!!! cried every one. - ---That reminds me of an anecdote.... Let us grant I have said nothing. - - -I - -In the beginning was Tityrus. - -And Tityrus being alone and completely 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. - -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 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. - -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. - -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. - -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. - -On the soil meanwhile houses appeared one by one, and it was necessary -to have 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. - -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. - -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. 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. - - -II - -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 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. - -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. - -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 -hired a grand piano upon which Angèle played the little tunes which -between times he composed for her. - -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? - ---Shall we go away? said Angèle to him. - ---I cannot go: I have my oak. - ---Suppose you were to leave it, said Angèle. - ---Leave my oak! You don’t mean it! - ---Is it not large enough now to grow alone? - ---But I am attached to it. - ---Become unattached, replied Angèle. - -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. - - -III - -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: - ---What are they all waiting for? - ---Where does your lordship come from? said the waiter. Does not your -lordship know that every one is waiting to see Meliboeus? He will -pass by between 5 and 6 ... and there--listen: I believe one can -already hear his flute. - -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. - ---Oh, how it moves me! said Angèle. - -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, -Meliboeus was at last seen advancing--preceded by the simple sound of -his flute. - -At first nothing could be clearly distinguished but his figure, but -when he drew nearer: - ---Oh, how charming he is! said Angèle. In the meantime Meliboeus -as he arrived opposite Tityrus, ceased to play his flute, stopped -suddenly, saw Angèle, and every one realized that he was naked. - -Oh! said Angèle, leaning upon Tityrus, how beautiful he is! what strong -thighs he has! His playing is adorable! - -Tityrus felt a little uncomfortable. - ---Ask him where he is going, said Angèle. - ---Where are you going? questioned Tityrus. - -Meliboeus replied:--Eo Romam. - ---What does he say? asked Angèle. - -Tityrus:--You would not understand, my dear. - ---But you can explain it to me, said Angèle. - ---Romam, insisted Meliboeus.... Urbem quam dicunt Romam. - -Angèle:--Oh, it sounds delicious! What does it mean? - -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. - ---Rome! said Angèle dreamily. Oh, I should love so much to see Rome! - -Meliboeus, 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 Meliboeus’ 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. - -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 Meliboeus was a naked person who was going to Italy. - -Then, all their curiosity having died down, the crowd streamed off like -water flowing away and the main boulevards were deserted. - -And Tityrus found himself alone, completely surrounded by the swamp. - -Let us grant that I have said nothing. - - * * * * * - -An irrepressible laughter shook the audience for several seconds. - ---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. - -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. - ---Pardon me, said Cocles. Your story was charming, and you made us -laugh.... But I do not quite understand the connexion.... - ---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. - -They found themselves on the boulevards. - ---Where are we going? said the waiter. - ---To your restaurant, if you do not mind, in memory of our first -meeting. - ---You are passing it, said the waiter. - ---I do not recognize it. - ---It is all new now. - ---Oh, I forgot!... I forgot that my eagle.... Don’t trouble: he will -never do it again. - ---Is it true, said Cocles, what you say? - ---What? - ---That you have killed him? - ---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? - ---Certainly. - ---He fed on me long enough. I think now that it is my turn. - ---A table! Sit down! Sit down, gentlemen! - ---Waiter, do not serve us: as a last remembrance, take the place of -Damocles. - - * * * * * - -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. - ---Has he then been useless? asked one. - ---Do not say that, Cocles!--his flesh has nourished us.--When I -questioned him he answered nothing, but I eat him without 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. - ---Of his past beauty, what is there left. - ---I have kept all his feathers. - - * * * * * - -_It is with one of them that I write this little book. May you, rare -friend, not find it too foolish._ - - - - -EPILOGUE - - -TO ENDEAVOUR TO MAKE THE READER BELIEVE THAT IF THIS BOOK IS SUCH AS IT -IS, IT IS NOT THE FAULT OF THE AUTHOR - -One does not write the books one wants to. - - _Journal des Goncourt._ - - - - -_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.”_ - -_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.”_ - - - PRINTED AT - THE COMPLETE PRESS - WEST NORWOOD - LONDON - - - - -TRANSCRIBER’S NOTE: - - - Italicized text is surrounded by underscores: _italics_. - - - - - -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 60914-0.txt or 60914-0.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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