第24章

ThemanufacturersofLyonsgivehighsalariestodesignersoftalent；

inthatliesthesecretoftheirsuccess。LowpricescomefromCompetition——afruitfulsourceofwealth，andadaughterofLiberty。

Therefore，agovernmentwishingtoestablishonafirmbasistheprosperityoftrademustgivecommercefullliberty；onlybeingcarefultopreventthefraudswhichprivateinterests，oftenwronglyunderstood，mightinventattheexpenseofpublicandgeneralinterests。Infact，thegovernmentmustholdthescales，andallowthecitizenstoloadthemastheyplease。

InLyonsImetthemostfamouscourtezanofVenice。Itwasgenerallyadmittedthatherequalhadneverbeenseen。HernamewasAncilla。

Everymanwhosawhercovetedher，andshewassokindlydisposedthatshecouldnotrefuseherfavourstoanyone；forifallmenlovedheroneaftertheother，shereturnedthecomplimentbylovingthemallatonce，andwithherpecuniaryadvantageswereonlyaverysecondaryconsideration。

Venicehasalwaysbeenblessedwithcourtezansmorecelebratedbytheirbeautythantheirwit。ThosewhoweremostfamousinmyyoungerdayswereAncillaandanothercalledSpina，boththedaughtersofgondoliers，andbothkilledveryyoungbytheexcessesofaprofessionwhich，intheireyes，wasanobleone。Attheageoftwenty—two，AncillaturnedadancerandSpinabecameasinger。

Campioni，acelebratedVenetiandancer，impartedtothelovelyAncillaallthegracesandthetalentsofwhichherphysicalperfectionsweresusceptible，andmarriedher。Spinahadforhermasteracastratowhosucceededinmakingofheronlyaveryordinarysinger，andintheabsenceoftalentshewascompelled，inordertogetaliving，tomakethemostofthebeautyshehadreceivedfromnature。

IshallhaveoccasiontospeakagainofAncillabeforeherdeath。

ShewastheninLyonswithherhusband；theyhadjustreturnedfromEngland，wheretheyhadbeengreatlyapplaudedattheHaymarketTheatre。ShehadstoppedinLyonsonlyforherpleasure，and，themomentsheshewedherself，shehadatherfeetthemostbrilliantyoungmenofthetown，whoweretheslavesofherslightestcaprice。

Everydaypartiesofpleasure，everyeveningmagnificentsuppers，andeverynightagreatfarobank。ThebankeratthegamingtablewasacertainDonJosephMarratti，thesamemanwhomIhadknownintheSpanisharmyunderthenameofDonPepeilCadetto，andafewyearsafterwardsassumedthenameofAfflisio，andcametosuchabadend。

Thatfarobankwoninafewdaysthreehundredthousandfrancs。Inacapitalthatwouldnothavebeenconsideredalargesum，butinacommercialandindustrialcitylikeLyonsitraisedthealarmamongstthemerchants，andtheUltramontanesthoughtoftakingtheirleave。

ItwasinLyonsthatarespectableindividual，whoseacquaintanceI

madeatthehouseofM。deRochebaron，obtainedformethefavourofbeinginitiatedinthesublimetriflesofFreemasonry。IarrivedinParisasimpleapprentice；afewmonthsaftermyarrivalIbecamecompanionandmaster；thelastiscertainlythehighestdegreeinFreemasonry，foralltheotherdegreeswhichItookafterwardsareonlypleasinginventions，which，althoughsymbolical，addnothingtothedignityofmaster。

Nooneinthisworldcanobtainaknowledgeofeverything，buteverymanwhofeelshimselfendowedwithfaculties，andcanrealizetheextentofhismoralstrength，shouldendeavourtoobtainthegreatestpossibleamountofknowledge。Awell—bornyoungmanwhowishestotravelandknownotonlytheworld，butalsowhatiscalledgoodsociety，whodoesnotwanttofindhimself，undercertaincircumstances，inferiortohisequals，andexcludedfromparticipatinginalltheirpleasures，mustgethimselfinitiatedinwhatiscalledFreemasonry，evenifitisonlytoknowsuperficiallywhatFreemasonryis。Itisacharitableinstitution，which，atcertaintimesandincertainplaces，mayhavebeenapretextforcriminalunderplotsgotupfortheoverthrowofpublicorder，butisthereanythingunderheaventhathasnotbeenabused？HavewenotseentheJesuits，underthecloakofourholyreligion，thrustintotheparricidalhandofblindenthusiaststhedaggerwithwhichkingsweretobeassassinated！Allmenofimportance，Imeanthosewhosesocialexistenceismarkedbyintelligenceandmerit，bylearningorbywealth，canbe（andmanyofthemare）Freemasons:isitpossibletosupposethatsuchmeetings，inwhichtheinitiated，makingitalawnevertospeak，’intramuros’，eitherofpolitics，orofreligions，orofgovernments，converseonlyconcerningemblemswhichareeithermoralortrifling；isitpossibletosuppose，Irepeat，thatthosemeetings，inwhichthegovernmentsmayhavetheirowncreatures，canofferdangerssufficientlyserioustowarranttheproscriptionsofkingsortheexcommunicationsofPopes？

Inrealitysuchproceedingsmisstheendforwhichtheyareundertaken，andthePope，inspiteofhisinfallibility，willnotpreventhispersecutionsfromgivingFreemasonryanimportancewhichitwouldperhapshaveneverobtainedifithadbeenleftalone。

Mysteryistheessenceofman’snature，andwhateverpresentsitselftomankindunderamysteriousappearancewillalwaysexcitecuriosityandbesought，evenwhenmenaresatisfiedthattheveilcoversnothingbutacypher。

Uponthewhole，Iwouldadviseallwell—bornyoungmen，whointendtotravel，tobecomeFreemasons；butIwouldlikewiseadvisethemtobecarefulinselectingalodge，because，althoughbadcompanycannothaveanyinfluencewhileinsideofthelodge，thecandidatemustguardagainstbadacquaintances。

ThosewhobecomeFreemasonsonlyforthesakeoffindingoutthesecretoftheorder，runaverygreatriskofgrowingoldunderthetrowelwithouteverrealizingtheirpurpose。Yetthereisasecret，butitissoinviolablethatithasneverbeenconfidedorwhisperedtoanyone。Thosewhostopattheoutwardcrustofthingsimaginethatthesecretconsistsinwords，insigns，orthatthemainpointofitistobefoundonlyinreachingthehighestdegree。Thisisamistakenview:themanwhoguessesthesecretofFreemasonry，andtoknowityoumustguessit，reachesthatpointonlythroughlongattendanceinthelodges，throughdeepthinking，comparison，anddeduction。HewouldnottrustthatsecrettohisbestfriendinFreemasonry，becauseheisawarethatifhisfriendhasnotfounditout，hecouldnotmakeanyuseofitafterithadbeenwhisperedinhisear。No，hekeepshispeace，andthesecretremainsasecret。

Everythingdoneinalodgemustbesecret；butthosewhohaveunscrupulouslyrevealedwhatisdoneinthelodge，havebeenunabletorevealthatwhichisessential；theyhadnoknowledgeofit，andhadtheyknownit，theycertainlywouldnothaveunveiledthemysteryoftheceremonies。

Theimpressionfeltinourdaysbythenon—initiatedisofthesamenatureasthatfeltinformertimesbythosewhowerenotinitiatedinthemysteriesenactedatEleusisinhonourofCeres。ButthemysteriesofEleusisinterestedthewholeofGreece，andwhoeverhadattainedsomeeminenceinthesocietyofthosedayshadanardentwishtotakeapartinthosemysteriousceremonies，whileFreemasonry，inthemidstofmanymenofthehighestmerit，reckonsacrowdofscoundrelswhomnosocietyoughttoacknowledge，becausetheyaretherefuseofmankindasfarasmoralityisconcerned。

InthemysteriesofCeres，aninscrutablesilencewaslongkept，owingtothevenerationinwhichtheywereheld。Besides，whatwasthereinthemthatcouldberevealed？Thethreewordswhichthehierophantsaidtotheinitiated？Butwhatwouldthatrevelationhavecometo？Onlytodishonourtheindiscreetinitiate，fortheywerebarbarouswordsunknowntothevulgar。IhavereadsomewherethatthethreesacredwordsofthemysteriesofEleusismeant:Watch，anddonoevil。Thesacredwordsandthesecretsofthevariousmasonicdegreesareaboutascriminal。

TheinitiationinthemysteriesofEleusislastedninedays。Theceremonieswereveryimposing，andthecompanyofthehighest。

PlutarchinformsusthatAlcibiadeswassentencedtodeathandhispropertyconfiscated，becausehehaddaredtoturnthemysteriesintoridiculeinhishouse。Hewasevensentencedtobecursedbythepriestsandpriestesses，butthecursewasnotpronouncedbecauseoneofthepriestessesopposedit，saying:

"Iamapriestesstoblessandnottocurse！"

Sublimewords！LessonsofwisdomandofmoralitywhichthePopedespises，butwhichtheGospelteachesandwhichtheSaviourprescribes。

Inourdaysnothingisimportant，andnothingissacred，forourcosmopolitanphilosophers。

BotarellipublishesinapamphletalltheceremoniesoftheFreemasons，andtheonlysentencepassedonhimis:

"Heisascoundrel。Weknewthatbefore！"

AprinceinNaples，andM。Hamiltoninhisownhouse，performthemiracleofSt。Januarius；theyare，mostlikely，verymerryovertheirperformance，andmanymorewiththem。YetthekingwearsonhisroyalbreastastarwiththefollowingdevicearoundtheimageofSt。Januarius:’Insanguinefoedus’。Inourdayseverythingisinconsistent，andnothinghasanymeaning。Yetitisrighttogoahead，fortostopontheroadwouldbetogofrombadtoworse。

WeleftLyonsinthepublicdiligence，andwerefivedaysonourroadtoParis。Balettihadgivennoticeofhisdeparturetohisfamily；

theythereforeknewwhentoexpecthim。Wewereeightinthecoachandourseatswereveryuncomfortable，foritwasalargeovalinshape，sothatnoonehadacorner。Ifthatvehiclehadbeenbuiltinacountrywhereequalitywasaprinciplehallowedbythelaws，itwouldnothavebeenabadillustration。Ithoughtitwasabsurd，butIwasinaforeigncountry，andIsaidnothing。Besides，beinganItalian，wouldithavebeenrightformenottoadmireeverythingwhichwasFrench，andparticularlyinFrance？——Example，anovaldiligence:Irespectedthefashion，butIfounditdetestable，andthesingularmotionofthatvehiclehadthesameeffectuponmeastherollingofashipinaheavysea。Yetitwaswellhung，buttheworstjoltingwouldhavedisturbedmeless。

Asthediligenceundulatesintherapidityofitspace，ithasbeencalledagondola，butIwasajudgeofgondolas，andIthoughtthattherewasnofamilylikenessbetweenthecoachandtheVenetianboatswhich，withtwoheartyrowers，glidealongsoswiftlyandsmoothly。

TheeffectofthemovementwasthatIhadtothrowupwhateverwasonmystomach。Mytravellingcompanionsthoughtmebadcompany，buttheydidnotsayso。IwasinFranceandamongFrenchmen，whoknowwhatpolitenessis。TheyonlyremarkedthatverylikelyIhadeatentoomuchatmysupper，andaParisianabbe，inordertoexcuseme，observedthatmystomachwasweak。Adiscussionarose。

"Gentlemen，"Isaid，inmyvexation，andratherangrily，"youareallwrong，formystomachisexcellent，andIhavenothadanysupper。"

Thereuponanelderlymantoldme，withavoicefullofsweetness，thatIoughtnottosaythatthegentlemenwerewrong，thoughImightsaythattheywerenotright，thusimitatingCicero，who，insteadofdeclaringtotheRomansthatCatilinaandtheotherconspiratorsweredead，onlysaidthattheyhadlived。

"Isitnotthesamething？"

"Ibegyourpardon，sir，onewayofspeakingispolite，theotherisnot。"Andaftertreatingmetoalongdissectiononpoliteness，heconcludedbysaying，withasmile，"IsupposeyouareanItalian？"

"Yes，Iam，butwouldyouobligemebytellingmehowyouhavefounditout？"

"Oh！Iguesseditfromtheattentionwithwhichyouhavelistenedtomylongprattle。"

Everybodylaughed，and，I，muchpleasedwithhiseccentricity，begantocoaxhim。Hewasthetutorofayoungboyoftwelveorthirteenyearswhowasseatednearhim。ImadehimgivemeduringthejourneylessonsinFrenchpoliteness，andwhenwepartedhetookmeapartinafriendlymanner，sayingthathewishedtomakemeasmallpresent。

"Whatisit？"

"Youmustabandon，and，ifImaysayso，forget，theparticle’non’，whichyouusefrequentlyatrandom。’Non’isnotaFrenchword；

insteadofthatunpleasantmonosyllable，say，’Pardon’。’Non’isequaltogivingthelie:neversayit，orprepareyourselftogiveandtoreceivesword—stabseverymoment。"

"Ithankyou，monsieur，yourpresentisveryprecious，andIpromiseyounevertosaynonagain。"

DuringthefirstfortnightofmystayinParis，itseemedtomethatIhadbecomethemostfaultymanalive，forIneverceasedbeggingpardon。Ieventhought，oneeveningatthetheatre，thatIshouldhaveaquarrelforhavingbeggedsomebody’spardoninthewrongplace。Ayoungfop，comingtothepit，trodonmyfoot，andI

hastenedtosay，"Yourpardon，sir。"

"Sir，pardonmeyourself。"

"No，yourself。"

"Yourself！"

"Well，sir，letuspardonandembraceoneanother！"Theembraceputastoptothediscussion。

Onedayduringthejourney，havingfallenasleepfromfatigueintheinconvenientgondola，someonepushedmyarm。

"Ah，sir！lookatthatmansion！"

"Iseeit；whatofit？"

"Ah！Iprayyou，doyounotfindit……"

"Ifindnothingparticular；andyou？"

"Nothingwonderful，ifitwerenotsituatedatadistanceoffortyleaguesfromParis。Buthere！Ah！wouldmy’badauds’ofParisiansbelievethatsuchabeautifulmansioncanbefoundfortyleaguesdistantfromthemetropolis？Howignorantamaniswhenhehasnevertravelled！"

"Youarequiteright。"

ThatmanwasaParisiananda’badaud’tothebackbone，likeaGaulinthedaysofCaesar。

ButiftheParisiansareloungingaboutfrommorningtillnight，enjoyingeverythingaroundthem，aforeignerlikemyselfoughttohavebeenagreater’badaud’thanthey！Thedifferencebetweenuswasthat，beingaccustomedtoseethingssuchastheyare，Iwasastonishedatseeingthemoftencoveredwithamaskwhichchangedtheirnature，whiletheirsurpriseoftenarosefromtheirsuspectingwhatthemaskconcealed。

Whatdelightedme，onmyarrivalinParis，wasthemagnificentroadmadebyLouisXV。，thecleanlinessofthehotels，theexcellentfaretheygive，thequicknessoftheservice，theexcellentbeds，themodestappearanceoftheattendant，whogenerallyisthemostaccomplishedgirlofthehouse，andwhosedecency，modestmanners，andneatness，inspirethemostshamelesslibertinewithrespect。

WhereistheItalianwhoispleasedwiththeeffronteryandtheinsolenceofthehotel—waitersinItaly？Inmydays，peopledidnotknowinFrancewhatitwastoovercharge；itwastrulythehomeofforeigners。True，theyhadtheunpleasantnessofoftenwitnessingactsofodiousdespotism，’lettresdecachet’，etc。；itwasthedespotismofaking。SincethattimetheFrenchhavethedespotismofthepeople。Isitlessobnoxious？

WedinedatFontainebleau，anamederivedfromFontaine—belle—eau；

andwhenwewereonlytwoleaguesfromPariswesawaberlinadvancingtowardsus。Asitcamenearthediligence，myfriendBaletticalledouttothepostillionstostop。Intheberlinwashismother，whoofferedmethewelcomegiventoanexpectedfriend。HismotherwasthecelebratedactressSilvia，andwhenIhadbeenintroducedtohershesaidtome；

"Ihope，sir，thatmyson’sfriendwillacceptashareofourfamilysupperthisevening。"

Iacceptedgratefully，satdownagaininthegondola，Balettigotintotheberlinwithhismother，andwecontinuedourjourney。

OnreachingParis，IfoundaservantofSilvia’swaitingformewithacoach；heaccompaniedmetomylodgingtoleavemyluggage，andwerepairedtoBaletti’shouse，whichwasonlyfiftyyardsdistantfrommydwelling。

Balettipresentedmetohisfather，whowasknownunderthenameofMario。SilviaandMariowerethestagenamesassumedbyM。andMadameBaletti，andatthattimeitwasthecustominFrancetocalltheItalianactorsbythenamestheyhadonthestage。’Bonjour’，MonsieurArlequin；’bonjour’，MonsieurPantalon:suchwasthemannerinwhichtheFrenchusedtoaddresstheactorswhopersonifiedthosecharactersonthestage。

CHAPTERVI

MyApprenticeshipinParis——Portraits——Oddities——AllSortsofThingsTocelebratethearrivalofherson，Silviagaveasplendidsuppertowhichshehadinvitedallherrelatives，anditwasagoodopportunityformetomaketheiracquaintance。Baletti’sfather，whohadjustrecoveredfromalongillness，wasnotwithus，butwehadhisfather’ssister，whowasolderthanMario。Shewasknown，underhertheatricalnameofFlaminia，intheliteraryworldbyseveraltranslations，butIhadagreatwishtomakeheracquaintancelessonthataccountthaninconsequenceofthestory，knownthroughoutItaly，ofthestaythatthreeliterarymenofgreatfamehadmadeinParis。ThosethreeliteratiweretheMarquisMaffei，theAbbeConti，andPierreJacquesMartelli，whobecameenemies，accordingtopublicrumour，owingtothebeliefentertainedbyeachofthemthathepossessedthefavoursoftheactress，and，beingmenoflearning，theyfoughtwiththepen。MartellicomposedasatireagainstMaffei，inwhichhedesignatedhimbytheanagramofFemia。

IhadbeenannouncedtoFlaminiaasacandidateforliteraryfame，andshethoughtshehonouredmebyaddressingmeatall，butshewaswrong，forshedispleasedmegreatlybyherface，hermanners，herstyle，evenbythesoundofhervoice。Withoutsayingitpositively，shemademeunderstandthat，beingherselfanillustriousmemberoftherepublicofletters，shewaswellawarethatshewasspeakingtoaninsect。Sheseemedasifshewantedtodictatetoeverybodyaroundher，andsheverylikelythoughtthatshehadtherighttodosoattheageofsixty，particularlytowardsayoungnoviceonlytwenty—fiveyearsold，whohadnotyetcontributedanythingtotheliterarytreasury。Inordertopleaseher，IspoketoheroftheAbbeConti，andIhadoccasiontoquotetwolinesofthatprofoundwriter。Madamcorrectedmewithapatronizingairformypronounciationoftheword’scevra’，whichmeansdivided，sayingthatitoughttobepronounced’sceura’，andsheaddedthatIoughttobeverygladtohavelearnedsomuchonthefirstdayofmyarrivalinParis，tellingmethatitwouldbeanimportantdayinmylife。

"Madam，Icameheretolearnandnottounlearn。Youwillkindlyallowmetotellyouthatthepronunciationofthatword’scevra’

withav，andnot’sceura’withau，becauseitisacontractionof’sceverra’。"

"Itremainstobeseenwhichofusiswrong。"

"You，madam，accordingtoAriosto，whomakes’scevra’rhymewith’persevra’，andtherhymewouldbefalsewith’sceura’，whichisnotanItalianword。"

Shewouldhavekeptupthediscussion，butherhusband，amaneightyyearsofage，toldherthatshewaswrong。Sheheldhertongue，butfromthattimeshetoldeverybodythatIwasanimpostor。

Herhusband，LouisRiccoboni，betterknownasLelio，wasthesamewhohadbroughttheItaliancompanytoParisin1716，andplaceditattheserviceoftheregent:hewasamanofgreatmerit。Hehadbeenveryhandsome，andjustlyenjoyedtheesteemofthepublic，inconsequencenotonlyofhistalentbutalsoofthepurityofhislife。

DuringsuppermyprincipaloccupationwastostudySilvia，whothenenjoyedthegreatestreputation，andIjudgedhertobeevenaboveit。Shewasthenaboutfiftyyearsold，herfigurewaselegant，herairnoble，hermannersgracefulandeasy；shewasaffable，witty，kindtoeverybody，simpleandunpretending。Herfacewasanenigma，foritinspiredeveryonewiththewarmestsympathy，andyetifyouexamineditattentivelytherewasnotonebeautifulfeature；shecouldnotbecalledhandsome，butnoonecouldhavethoughtherugly。

Yetshewasnotoneofthosewomenwhoareneitherhandsomenorugly，forshepossessedacertainsomethingwhichstruckoneatfirstsightandcaptivatedtheinterest。Thenwhatwasshe？

Beautiful，certainly，butowingtocharmsunknowntoallthosewho，notbeingattractedtowardsherbyanirresistiblefeelingwhichcompelledthemtoloveher，hadnotthecouragetostudyher，ortheconstancytoobtainathoroughknowledgeofher。

Silvi