,,*ri/ian ,,my/]y  ,a ,,*9ese ,,tale1   
,,f\nd ,,9 ,,! ,,portfolio ,,( ,a       
,,portuguese ,,fri>4        ,he>1 ,o    
prodigy6 ,o ,t5d]ness6 ,o ,my/]y6--,he  
has j      dr[n$ ! ,fa!rs2--& n[ he w   
die = ! ,*ildr56       ,voltaire4       
,,london3  ,,pr9t$  ,,publi%$ ,,by ,r4  
,,c>lile1 #ee1 ,,fleet ,,/reet4  #ahai4 
,,*ri/ian ,,my/]y   ,comm]cial affaire  
_h engag$ me to make a sea voyage4 ,i _h
 got f> f ! %ores ( my native c\ntry1 :5
 a dreadful tempe/ ?rew me on an unkn[n 
coa/2 h[ev]1 ,i fell into ! h&s ( a v   
humane p1 & soon f\nd !y _h br\ght !    
arts to great p]fection1 t !y practis$  
_m virtues1 & appe>$ to me 9 a /ate z   
enlight5$ z humanity c\ld atta94  ,my   
admiration ( !m equall$ my gratitude1 b1
 alas6 x is b too true1 t man always    
discov]s by "s fail+ ! weakness ( 8 be+4
  ,^! p %ew$ z mu* fri5d%ip t[>ds me z  
,i c\ld possibly d to !m2 _! mildness & 
civility entirely ga9$ my affection4 ,!y
 said to me "o day1 ,( :at religion are 
y8 ,! "q surpris$ me2 ,i ask$ !m if !re 

7 two religions1 at :i* !y smil$1 & ,i  
saw !y 7 a/oni%$ at my ignorance4 ,my   
fri5d1 said "o ( !m1 give ?anks to ,god 
= hav+ conduct$ y among/ u to be        
in/ruct$ 9 our holy religion4 ,y d n "k 
!n t ,god has made himself a man8 ,i    
assur$ !m x 0 ! fir/ "t ,i _h he>d ( x1 
& ask$ !m :y he _h become a man8 ,"k1   
cont9u$ !y1 t ! fir/ man eat an apple   
:i* ,god _h =bidd5 him1 9 consequ5ce (  
:i* all 8 po/]ity 7 condemn$ to et]nal  
puni%m5t4 ,at ano!r "t m5 became s      
crim9al t ! ,almighty rep5t$ ( hav+     
creat$ !m1 & dr[n$ !m all ) ! exception 
( eight p]sons4 ,! po/]ity ( ^! became  
no bett]1 ,god cont9u$ to be displeas$1 
& z x 0 necess>y to reconcile him to    
mank9d1 ,god ! ,son became a man to     
appease ,god ! ,fa!r4  ,?is div9e family
 a/oni%$ me a little4 ,& ! daught] (    
,god1 said ,i1 :at is become ( h]8 ,!y  
answ]$ gravely1 ,god has no daught]4    
,oh6 he has b a ,son3 b h[ d y "k ! sex 
( ?is ,son8 ,!y answ]$1 ,god is         
incorporeal1 he has no sex4 ,i          

insi/$--h[ c\ld ,god ! ,fa!r produce    
,god ! ,son8 ,he begot him4 ,god has a  
sex !n1--he mu/ also h a wife4 ,!y smil$
 at me aga94 ,b :5 did ! ,fa!r beget ?is
 ,son8 ,f all et]nity4 ,my fri5ds1 !re  
is an app>5t contradiction1 x is n      
possible = ! ,son :o 0 begott5 to be z  
old z ! ,fa!r4 ,has ! ,fa!r !n any o!r  
*ildr58 ,no2 b !re is a ?ird p]son :o   
proce$s f ! ,fa!r & ! ,son4 ,i suppose  
he 0 begott5 also8 ,no2 c]ta9ly n3 pray 
take c>e :at y say1 or y w be guilty (  
h]esy4 ,i repli$1 ,i did n und]/& !m4   
,o1 ,sir1 ^! are my/]ies :i* ,god       
himself has reveal$ to m51 to ! end t !y
 might und]/& no?+4 ,wond]ful1 said ,i4 
,!y cont9u$3 ,god wi%$ to humble m5's   
reason1 t is1 to give !m a disreg>d = ! 
mo/ preci\s gift !y hold ( 8 b\nty4 ,& y
 make no use ( y\r reason !n8 ,o yes2 we
 are all[$ to use x 9 all o!r actions ( 
our lives1 b 9 matt]s ( religion x w\ld 
be impi\s4 ,bett] & bett]1 said ,i4 ,s  
!n ,i f9d y h ?ree ,gods8 ,no1 no1      
repli$ !y1 we h inde$ ?ree p]sons1 ( :om

 ! fir/ is ! ,fa!r1 ! second is ! ,son1 
or ^w1 ! ?ird is ! ,holy ,_s2 b all ^!  
?ree make only "o ,god4 ,h[1 ,g5tlem58  
^! ?ree make b "o1 & "o makes ?ree6     
,yes2 x is s1 repli$ !y1 ?\gh contr>y to
 all ! rules ( ari?metic2 y mu/ "k t our
 !ology is f> sup]ior to ?is petty      
sci5ce2 h[ev] we w expla9 ! :ole to y4  
,:at d y call ! ?ird p]son8 said ,i4 ,! 
,holy ,gho/4 ,has ! ,holy ,gho/ be5 a   
man also8 ,no2 b he became a pigeon2 we 
d n "k inde$ t x 0 8 natural =m1 b :5 he
 appe>$ to ! apo/les he 0 pleas$ to     
borr[ t %ape4  ,& ! ,son ( ,god has be5 
a man f all et]nity8 ,o no1 only sev5te5
 hundr$ ye>s4  ,( :om1 & n[ 0 he born8  
,he 0 born ( a virg94 ,%e w\ld c]ta9ly  
be mu* surpris$ "k-+ h]self to be a     
virg98 ,o yes2 y are "r2 b an angel came
 to prep>e h] t %e might n be al>m$ 9   
be+ br\ght to b$4 ,yet ,i suppose y w be
 /ill m surpris$ :5 we tell y %e 0      
m>ri$8 ,o no2 p>don me1 ,i und]/& ?is   
my/]y bett] ?an all ! o!rs4 ,nay1 d n   
je/1 ,sir1 h] husb& _h n slept ) h]2 we 

h x s reveal$ to u4 ,& pray h[ did %e   
conceive8 ,by ! op]ation ( ! ,holy      
,gho/4 ,b y say t ! ,holy ,gho/ proce$s 
f ! ,son2 h[ !n c\ld he produce ! ,son8 
,yes1 ,sir1 x is s1 by ! infallible     
decision ( ! holy *ur*4 ,& :o 0 8 "m8 ,!
 wife ( a c>p5t]4 ,:at k9d ( a life did 
he lead8 ,he s]v$ ?irty ye>s 9 8 fa!r's 
%op1 & 0 v s]viceable to him4 ,inde$1   
g5tlem51 v well6 ,i p]ceive y h sublime 
notions ( ! div9ity4 ,at ! age ( ?irty  
he began to prea* to ! p 9 ! c\ntry1 :i*
 la/$ "s "t2 at l5g? ! magi/rates became
 displeas$1 because 9 8 s]mons he said a
 great deal ab\t ri* m51 & ! (fic]s ( ! 
gov]nm5t4 ,he =esaw t he w\ld be puni%$1
 & p]spir$ bo? wat] & blood4 ,inde$6 t  
is ano!r f9e trait 9 8 "*4  ,at l5g? he 
0 arre/$ by ! magi/rates1 & crucifi$    
betwe5 two robb]s4 ,& he di$8 ,yes4 ,& 0
 buri$8 ,yes4 ,well !n ,i suppose t is !
 end ( 8 hi/ory8 ,hold1 ,sir1 y g too   
fa/2 he di$1 x is true1 b x 0 9         
consid]ation t ,god w\ld p>don mank9d4  
,oh1 ,i und]/& y4 ,god w\ld p>don ! s9s 

( mank9d because !y _h kill$ 8 ,son4    
,truly1 no?+ c\ld be bett] imag9$4 ,b "k
 = te/imony ( 8 div9ity1 he rose aga9 ! 
?ird day4 ,& :at pro( h y ( ?is8 ,!     
writ+s ( 8 disciples4 ,b :at said ! p8  
,!y contradict$ x4  ,oh1 g5tlem56 ,i f9d
 y are z well provid$ ) pro(s z )       
reason+s2 b did he p]=m any o!r         
miracles8 ,yes2 he cur$ ^? possess$ (   
evil spirits2 dri$ a fig tree2 s5t      
devils into a h]d ( sw9e2 fill$ ! nets (
 8 disciples ) fi%es1 & *ang$ wat] into 
w9e2 b he lov$ s to humble himself1 t   
nev] 9 8 life did he own t he 0 ,god4 ,&
 :y d y believe x8 ,8 sect>ies h disput$
 a long "t on ?is important article1 z  
well z ( ! ,holy ,gho/1 because ?ree    
p]sons 7 n spok5 ( 9 ! ,old ,te/am5t4 ,!
 ,holy ,gho/ 0 f\nd out to be ,god aft] 
twelve hundr$ ye>s _h pass$ ov]1 & z = !
 div9ity ( ,jesus1 ?ree hundr$ ye>s (   
disputes1 tr\bles1 & massacres suffic$  
to decide ! matt] 9 8 fav\r4  ,z y love 
?is ,god s mu*1 ,i suppose he 0 born 9  
y\r c\ntry8 ,no2 he 0 born 9 ano!r qu>t]

 ( ! globe4 ,inde$6 ,y g v f> to seek   
y\r gods6 ,he mu/ !n h left a book (    
doctr9es ( religion1 :i* y ?\ght prop]  
to adopt8 ,no8 he did n tea* a new      
religion1 nei!r did he write any ?+2 b  
"s ( 8 disciples h writt5 8 hi/ory &    
disc\rses4 ,& y\r religion is !re       
exactly prescrib$8 ,oh1 no6 ,we h only a
 few p>ticul>s ( 8 life1 accompani$ by  
"s moral precepts2 he has !re decl>$ t  
he came to fulfil ! anci5t law & n to   
*ange x4 ,!n !re 0 a p>ticul> religion 9
 ! c\ntry :]e he 0 born1 be=e 8 "t8     
,yes4 ,& x is t same religion t y /ill  
obs]ve8 ,no2 ours is 9 direct opposition
 to x4 ,b :5ce !n is ?is new religion1 =
 y own t x 0 nev] ann\nc$ by y\r ,god8  
,we h expla9$1 comm5t$1 int]pret$ )\t   
ceas+ ^! sev5te5 hundr$ ye>s on !       
disc\rses ( ,*ri/2 & h drawn f !m a long
 succession ( dogmas & my/]ies q new4 ,&
 d y all agree 9 ^! int]pretations8 ,no3
 f> f x4 ,we h always be5 disput+1      
fight+1 & kill+ "o ano!r on acc\nt ( !m4
 ,well1 ,i am v sorry to tell y t ,i d n

 ?9k y\r religion v attract+4 ,:at d y  
say8 ,y d n agree 9 y\r explanations1 & 
y qu>rel & kill ea* o!r ab\t !m8 ,y\r   
religion does n at all please me2 yet ,i
 suppose x _h be5 adopt$ by ! p ( !     
c\ntry :]e y\r ,god dwelt8 ,y are aga9  
deceiv$2 ,*ri/ _h b a v small numb] (   
disciples1 & ^! 7 f ! l[e/ class ( ! p4 
,h we n already told y t he 0 put to    
dea? by ord] ( ! magi/rates8 ,:at d y   
say1 g5tlem58 ,0 n 8 doctr9e believ$ by 
! p he attempt$ to in/ruct8 ,no4 ,8     
miracles1 h !y n p]suad$ ^? :o 7        
witnesses8 ,no4 ,& :y %\ld y believe !m2
 y :o came sev5te5 hundr$ ye>s aft] him8
 ,o1 ,sir1 all ?+s require an           
explanation4 ,"k !n t ,god s5t 8 ,son   
among ?is p ^: he>ts he _h h>d5$1       
purposely t !y might n believe 9 him4   
,well expla9$6 ,i am q delight$ ) y\r   
mode ( reason+2 b pray :at "n d y give  
?is p8 ,jews4--,jews8 ,jews6 ,i nev]    
he>d ( !m8 ,no1 ,i believe y4 ,!y       
occupi$ su* a small t]ritory t _!       
reputation did n ext5d f>2 nev]!less !y 

7 =m]ly ,god's fav\rite p4 ,god *ose !m 
f among all ! nations ( ! e>?2 he gov]n$
 !m himself1 & (t5 conv]s$ ) _! *iefs4  
,sometimes ?r\gh t5d]ness = 8 p he ord]$
 !m to massacre ea* o!r2 & at "o "t     
tw5ty ?ree ?\s& 7 put to dea? by _! own 
citiz5s at ! express comm& ( ,god4  ,god
 ord]$ "o ( _! k+s to murd] e man ( a   
nation !y _h vanqui%$2 ! k+ _h !        
audacity to sp>e "s :o 7 n 9 a /ate to  
def5d !mselves & 0 puni%$ = x4 ,a son ( 
?is k+ 0 condemn$ to die = eat+ honey on
 ! day ( battle1 & ,god1 :o 0 ju/ly     
irritat$ at ! fa!r z well z son1        
proscrib$ !m bo?1 & made *oice ( a new  
k+4  ,?is k+ 7:om ,god _h expressly     
*os57 committ$ adult]y ) ! wife ( "o ( 8
 g5]als1 & massacr$ h] husb&4 ,by !     
adultress he _h a son :o kept sev5      
hundr$ wives & ?ree hundr$ concub9es 9 8
 s]aglio2 b y mu/ "k ^! two k+s 7 *]i%$ 
by our ,god2 bo? _h heav5ly b5$ictions  
heap$ on _! heads4 ,! fa!r 0 ! man aft] 
,god's own he>t1 & ! son 0 ! wise/ ( m54
 ,! ,son ( ,god1 :o became a man1       

desc5d$ 9 a direct l9e f ?is wise/ ( m51
 & f ! adultress ( :om we h j spok54    
,o1 g5tlem51 exclaim$ ,i1 y make me     
%udd] at y\r impi\s ideas4 ,!y resum$4  
,h we n told y t ! conduct ( ?is ,god 0 
always my/]i\s1 purposely to humble our 
weak reason8 ,! fir/ legislator :om ,god
 gave to 8 fav\rite p 0 an assass92 b he
 _h nev]!less ! gift ( p]=m+ a numb] (  
miracles4 ,he compos$ a body ( civil &  
religi\s rites & laws :i* we /ill rev]e 
z hav+ be5 inspir$ by ! ,deity4 ,& yet1 
y d n obs]ve !m8 ,no2 truly4 ,we hold ^?
 p 9 horror :o d s4 ,x is true1 t ?is 0 
=m]ly ! fav\rite p ( ,god1 & all o!r    
nations 7 reject$2 aft]w>ds ! o!r       
nations 7 *os51 & ?is fav\rite p        
reject$4 ,d y n admire1 ,sir1 ! wisdom (
 ! ,god we adore8  ,at ?is disc\rse1 ,i 
/ole away f !m1 & c\ld sc>cely p]suade  
myself x 0 m ?an a dream4 ,hav+ be=e se5
 to :at great p]fection ?is p _h atta9$ 
9 e human sci5ce1 ,i began to fe> !     
weakness ( my nature1 & det]m9$ to      
return to my c\ntry2 le/ ^? abom9able   

,european prejudices %\ld make me =get  
my duty to my fell[ creatures1 & rev]5ce
 = ! ,god ( all worlds4   ,,! ,,end4