,,prometheus ,,illbound ,,by ,,andr ,,gide ,,literal ,,translation ,,from ,,the ,,french ,,by ,,lilian ,,rothermere ,,london ,,chatto ,,and ,,windus #aiai ,,preface ,the work of art is the exaggeration of an idea1 says ,gide in the epilogue of the 8,prometheus ,illbound40 ,this is really the explanation of the whole book and of many other books of ,gide4 ,his world is a world of abstract ideas1 under the action of which most of his characters move as marionettes4 8,time and space are the boards1 which1 with the help of our minds1 have been set up by the innumerable truths of the universe as a stage for their own performances4 ,and there we play our parts like determined1 convinced1 devoted and voluptuous marionettes40 ,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 concept4 ,zeus1 the banker1 poses this disinterested act because his thought refuses or hesitates to admit it2 the same thing happens with ,lafcadio in the 8,caves du ,vatican0 when he is on the point of murdering ,amde ,fleurissoire4 ,the tyranny of ideas is the dominating force of his characters4 ,even his first writings--where one finds some of his best pages1 which appear to be purely lyrical explosion--such as 8,les ,nourritures ,terrestres0 and 8,le ,voyage d',urien10 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 ,nietzsche4 ,it is because of that tyranny of ideas that ,gide is attracted by religious psychology4 ,after all1 ,alissa of 8,la ,porte troite0 sacrifices her life and her happiness to her ideas4 ,it is because of that also that one of the most daring books of the time1 8,l',immoraliste10 is written in the most moral way3 the feelings are only described by their reaction on the brain4 ,and this applies to nearly the whole work of ,gide4 ,even his concept of heroism is ruled by it4 ,his heroes are monomaniacs of a thought which they believe or create ideal4 ,his 8,roi ,candaule0 is a man stupefied by the idea of his possessions4 ,that which does not nourish his brain is a reason for depression1 and as love or passion absorbs the brain without nourishing it1 he resents it4 ,every attempt of a purely amorous adventure is a failure1 as well in 8,l',immoraliste0 as in the 8,tentative ,amoureuse40 ,on the contrary1 when it becomes by struggle a problem for the brain it excites him4 ,alissa was really his only love1 and he could not love ,isabelle when she had lost her power of attraction through the revelation of the unknown she represented to his mind4 ,the exaltation of ,gide is a ,nietzschean exaltation--it is an exaltation caused by the power of mind4 ,the definition of genius he gives in 8,prtextes0 is very characteristic from that point of view4 ,he calls it3 8,le sentiment de la ressource40 ,his sensitiveness is the sensitiveness of the brain1 which is so acute that it vibrates through his whole personality4 ,from there comes the clear1 logical form of his tales4 ,the book1 8,prometheus ,illbound10 which we present to the ,english public to-day is one of the most characteristic books of ,gide3 a work of pure intellectual fantasy1 where the subtle brain of the author has full play4 ,it is the expression of the humorous side of a mind which must be ranked among the greatest of the world's literature4 ,,lilian ,,rothermere4 ,,prometheus ,,illbound ,eagle1 vulture or dove4 ,,victor ,,hugo4 ,in the month of ,may #ahi4441 at two o'clock in the afternoon1 this occurred which might appear strange3 ,on the boulevard leading from the ,madeleine to the ,opra1 a stout gentleman of middle age1 with nothing remarkable about him but uncommon corpulence1 was approached by a thin gentleman1 who smilingly1 thinking no harm1 we believe1 gave him back a handkerchief that he had just dropped4 ,the corpulent gentleman thanked him briefly and was going his way when he suddenly leant towards the thin man and must have asked for information1 which must have been given1 for he produced from his pocket a portable inkpot and pens1 which without more ado he handed to the thin gentleman1 and also an envelope which up to this minute he had been holding in his hand4 ,and those who passed could see the thin man writing an address upon it4--,but here begins the strange part of the story1 which no newspaper1 however1 reported3 the thin gentleman1 after having given back the pen and the envelope1 had not even the time to smile adieu when the fat gentleman1 in form of thanks1 abruptly struck him on the face1 then jumped in a cab and disappeared1 before any of the spectators1 stupefied with surprise 7,i was there71 thought of stopping him4 ,i have been told since that it was ,zeus1 the banker4 ,the thin gentleman1 visibly upset by the attentions of the crowd1 insisted that he had hardly felt the blow1 notwithstanding that the blood poured out of his nose and his cut-open lip4 ,he begged them to be kind enough to leave him alone1 and the crowd1 on his insistence1 slowly dispersed4 ,thus the reader will allow us to leave at present some one he will hear of sufficiently later on4 ,a ,,chronicle ,,of ,,private ,,morality ,i ,i will not speak of public morals1 for there are none1 but this reminds me of an anecdote3 99 99 99 99 99 ,when1 on the heights of the ,caucasus1 ,prometheus found that chains1 clamps1 strait-waistcoats1 parapets1 and other scruples1 had on the whole a numbing effect on him1 for a change he turned to the left1 stretched his right arm and1 between the fourth and fifth hours of an autumn afternoon1 walked down the boulevard which leads from the ,madeleine to the ,opra4 ,different ,parisian celebrities passed continually before his eyes4 ,where are they going8 ,prometheus asked himself1 and settling himself in a caf with a book he asked3 8,waiter1 where are they going80 ,,the ,,history ,,of ,,the ,,waiter ,,and ,,the ,,miglionaire --,if his lordship could see them coming and going every day as ,i do1 said the waiter1 he would also ask where do they come from8 ,it must be the same place1 as they pass every day4 ,i say to myself3 ,since they always return they cannot have found what they want4 ,i now wait for his lordship to ask me3 ,what are they looking for8 and his lordship will see what ,i shall reply4 ,then ,prometheus asked3 ,what are they looking for8 ,the waiter replied3 ,since they do not remain where they go1 it cannot be happiness4 ,his lordship may believe me or not1 and1 coming nearer1 he said in a low voice3 ,they are looking for their personalities2--,his lordship does not live here8444 --,no1 said ,prometheus4 --,one can easily see that1 said the waiter2 ,yes3 personality2 we call it here idiosyncrasy3 ,like me 7for example71 from what you see1 you think ,i am just a waiter in a restaurant6 ,well6 your lordship1 no6 ,it is by choice2 you may believe me or not3 ,i have an inner life3 ,i observe4 ,personalities are the only interesting things2 and then the relations between personalities4 ,it is very well arranged in this restaurant2 tables for three2 ,i will explain the management later on4 ,you will dine soon1 will you not8 ,we will introduce you4444 ,prometheus was a little tired4 ,the waiter continued3 ,yes1 tables for three1 that is what ,i found the easiest3 three gentlemen arrive2 they are introduced2 they are introduced 7if they wish it1 of course71 for in my restaurant before dining you must give your name2 then say what you do2 so much the worse if you deceive each other4 ,then you sit down 7not ,i72 you talk 7not ,i1 of course7--but ,i put you in sympathy2 ,i listen2 ,i scrutinize2 ,i direct the conversation4 ,at the end of dinner ,i know three inner men1 three personalities6 ,they1 no4 ,i1 you understand1 ,i listen1 ,i bring into relation2 they submit to the relationship4444 ,you will ask me3 ,what do you gain by this8 ,oh1 nothing at all6 ,it pleases me to create relationships4444 ,oh6 not for me6444 ,it is what one could call an absolutely gratuitous act4 ,prometheus appeared a little tired4 ,the waiter continued3 ,a gratuitous act6 ,does this convey nothing to you8--,to me it seems extraordinary4 ,i thought for a long time that this was the one thing that distinguished man from the animals--a gratuitous act4 ,i called man an animal capable of a gratuitous act2--and then afterwards ,i thought the contrary2 that man is the only being incapable of acting gratuitously2--gratuitously6 just think2 without reason--yes1 ,i hear--shall we say without motive2 incapable6 then this idea began to fidget me4 ,i said to myself3 why does he do this8 why does he do that8 444 and yet ,i am not a determinist 444 but that reminds me of an anecdote3 --,i have a friend1 my lord1 you will hardly believe me1 who he is a miglionaire4 ,he is also intelligent4 ,he said to himself3 ,a gratuitous act8 how to do it8 ,and understand this does not only mean an act that brings no return4444 ,no1 but gratuitous3 an act that has no motive4 ,do you understand8 no interest1 no passion1 nothing4 ,the act disinterested2 born of itself2 the act without aim1 thus without master2 the free act2 the act ,autochthon6 --,hey8 said ,prometheus4 --,listen well1 said the waiter4 ,my friend went out one morning1 taking with him a bank-note of #bj in an envelope and a blow prepared in his hand4 ,the point was to find somebody without choosing him4 ,so he drops his handkerchief in the street1 and1 to the man who picks it up 7evidently kindly since he picked it up71 the miglionaire3 --,pardon1 sir1 do you not know some one8 ,the other3--,yes1 several4 ,the miglionaire3 ,then1 sir1 will you have the kindness to write his name on this envelope2 here is a table1 pens1 and a pencil4444 ,the other1 good-naturedly1 writes1 then3--,now1 sir1 will you explain yourself4448 ,the miglionaire replies3 ,it is on principle2 then 7,i forgot to tell you he is very strong7 he strikes him with the blow he had in his hand2 then calls a cab and disappears4 ,do you understand8--two gratuitous acts in one go6 ,the bank-note of #bj sent to an address which he had not selected1 and the blow given to a person who selected himself to pick up the handkerchief4 ,no6 but is it gratuitous enough8 ,and the relation8 ,i bet you have not seriously scrutinized the relationship2 for1 as the act is gratuitous1 it is what we call here reversible3 ,one receives #bj for a blow1 and the other a blow for #bj 444 then4444 ,no one knows 444 one is lost--think of it6 ,a gratuitous act6 ,there is nothing more demoralizing4--,but my lord is beginning to be hungry2 ,i beg his lordship's pardon2 ,i forget myself1 ,i talk too much4444 ,will his lordship kindly give me his name1--so that ,i can introduce him4444 --,prometheus1 said ,prometheus simply4 --,prometheus6 ,i was right1 his lordship is a stranger here 444 and his lordship's occupation is4448 --,i do nothing1 said ,prometheus4 --,oh6 no4 ,no1 said the waiter with an ingratiating smile4--,only to see his lordship1 one knows at once that he is a man with an occupation4 --,it is so long ago1 stammered ,prometheus4 --,never mind1 never mind1 continued the waiter4 ,anyway1 his lordship need not be uneasy2 in introducing ,i only say the name1 if you like2 but the occupation never4 ,come1 tell me3 his lordship's occupation is4448 --,making matches1 murmured ,prometheus1 blushing4 ,there followed a painful silence1 the waiter understanding that he should not have insisted1 ,prometheus feeling that he should not have answered4 ,in a consoling tone3 ,well6 after all his lordship does not make them any more 444 said the waiter4 ,but then1 what8 ,i must write down something1 ,i cannot write simply3 ,prometheus4 ,his lordship has perhaps an avocation1 a speciality4444 ,after all1 what can his lordship do8 --,nothing1 again said ,prometheus4 --,then let us say3 ,journalist4--,now1 if his lordship will come into the restaurant2 ,i cannot serve dinner outside4 ,and he cried3--,a table for three6 one6444 ,by two doors two gentlemen entered2 they could be seen giving their names to the waiter2 but the introductions not having been asked for1 without more ado the two men both sat down4 ,and when they had sat down3 ,,ii --,gentlemen1 said one of them1--if ,i have come to this restaurant1 where the food is bad1 it is only to talk4 ,i have a horror of solitary meals1 and this system of tables for three pleases me1 as with two one might wrangle4444 ,but you look taciturn8 --,it is quite unintentional1 said ,prometheus4 --,shall ,i continue8 --,yes1 please do4 --,it seems to me quite possible that during lunch three people have time to become very well known to each other1--not losing too much time eating1--not talking too much2 and avoiding trite topics2 ,i mean to say mentioning only strictly individual experiences4 ,i do not pretend that one is obliged to talk1 but why come to this restaurant1 where the food is bad1 if conversation does not suit you8 ,prometheus was very tired3 the waiter leant over and whispered3 ,that is ,cocles4 ,the one who is going to speak is ,damocles4 ,damocles said3 ,,the ,,history ,,of ,,damocles ,sir1 if you had said that to me a month ago1 ,i should have had nothing to say2 but after what happened to me last month1 all my ideas have changed4 ,i will not speak of my old thoughts except to make you understand in what way ,i have changed4--,now1 gentlemen1 since thirty days ,i feel that ,i am an original1 unique being1 with a very singular destiny4--,so1 gentlemen1 you can deduct that before ,i felt the contrary1 ,i lived a perfectly ordinary life and made it my business to be as commonplace as possible4 ,now1 however1 ,i must admit that a commonplace man does not exist1 and ,i affirm that it is a vain ambition to try to resemble everybody1 for everybody is composed of each one1 and each one does not resemble anybody4 ,but never mind1 ,i took the greatest pains to put things right2 ,i drew up statistics2 ,i calculated the happy medium--without understanding that extremes meet1 that he who goes to bed very late comes across him who gets up very early1 and that he who chooses the happy medium risks to fall between two stools4--,every night ,i went to bed at ten4 ,i slept eight hours and a half4 ,i was most careful in all my actions to copy the majority1 and in all my thoughts the most approved opinions4 ,useless to insist4 ,but one day a personal adventure happened to me1 the importance of which in the life of a well-ordered man as ,i was can only be understood later on4 ,it is a precedent2 it is terrible4 ,and ,i received it4 ,,iii ,just imagine1 one morning ,i received a letter4 ,gentlemen1 ,i see by your lack of astonishment that ,i am telling my story very badly4 ,i should have told you first that ,i did not expect any letters4 ,i receive exactly two a year3 one from my landlord to ask for the rent1 and one from my bankers to inform me that ,i can pay it2 but on the first of ,january ,i received a third letter4444 ,i cannot tell you where from4 ,the address was in an unknown hand4 ,the complete lack of character shown in the writing1 which was revealed to me by graphologists1 whom ,i consulted1 gave me no clue4 ,the only indication the writing gave was one of great kindness2 and here again certain of them inferred weakness4 ,they could make nothing of it4 ,the writing 444 ,i speak1 you understand1 of the writing on the envelope2 for in the envelope there was none2 none--not a word1 not a line4 ,in the envelope there was nothing but a bank-note of #bj4 ,i was just going to drink my chocolate2 but ,i was so astonished that ,i let it get cold4 ,i searched my mind 444 nobody owes me money4 ,i have a fixed revenue1 gentlemen1 and with little economies each year1 notwithstanding the continual fall in the value of stock1 ,i manage to live within my income4 ,i expected nothing1 as ,i have said4 ,i have never asked for anything4 ,my usual regular life prevents me from even wishing for anything4 ,i gave much thought to the question after the best methods3 ,cur1 unde1 quo1 qua8--,from where1 for where1 by where1 why8 ,and this note was not an answer1 for this was the first time in my life ,i questioned anything4 ,i thought3 it must be a mistake2 perhaps ,i can repair it4 ,this sum was intended no doubt for some one of the same name4 ,so ,i looked in the ,post ,office ,directory for a homonym1 who was perhaps expecting the letter4 ,but my name cannot be common1 as in looking through that enormous book ,i was the only one of that name indicated4 ,i hoped to come to a better result by the writing on the envelope1 and find out who sent the letter1 if not to whom it was sent4 ,it was then that ,i consulted the graphologists4 ,but nothing--no nothing--they could tell me nothing2 which only increased my distress4 ,these #bj troubled me more and more every day2 ,i would like to get rid of them1 but ,i do not know what to do4 ,for anyhow 444 or if some one had given them to me1 at least they deserve to be thanked4 ,i should like to show my gratitude1--but to whom8 ,always in the hope of something turning up1 ,i carry the note with me4 ,it does not leave me day or night4 ,i am at its disposal4 ,before1 ,i was banal but free4 ,now ,i belong to that note4 ,this adventure has decided me2 ,i was nothing1 now ,i am somebody4 ,since this adventure ,i am restless2 ,i search for people to talk to1 and if ,i come here for my meals it is because of this system of tables for three2 among the people ,i meet here ,i hope one day to find the one who will know the writing on the envelope1 here it is4444 ,with these words ,damocles drew from his breast a sigh and from his frock-coat a dirty yellow envelope4 ,his full name was written there in a very ordinary handwriting4 ,then a strange thing happened3 ,cocles1 who up to that time had been silent1 kept silent1--but suddenly raised his hand and made a violent effort to strike ,damocles1 the waiter catching his hand just in time4 ,cocles recovered himself and sadly made this speech1 which can be only understood later on3 ,after all1 it is better so1 for if ,i had succeeded in returning you the blow you would have believed it your duty to give me back the note and 444 it does not belong to me4--,then1 seeing that ,damocles was waiting for a further explanation3--,it was ,i1 he added1 pointing to the envelope1 who wrote your address4 --,but how did you know my name1 cried ,damocles1 rather annoyed by the incident4 --,by chance--quietly said ,cocles2--in any case that is of little importance in this story4 ,my story is even more curious than yours2 let me tell you in a few words3 ,,the ,,history ,,of ,,cocles ,i have very few friends in the world2 and before this happened ,i did not know of one4 ,i do not know who was my father and ,i never knew my mother2 for a long time ,i wondered why ,i lived4 ,i went out into the streets1 searching for a determining influence from outside4 ,i thought1 the first thing that happens to me will decide my destiny2 for ,i did not make myself as ,i am1 too naturally kind for that4 ,the first act1 ,i knew1 would give a motive to my life4 ,naturally kind1 as ,i have said1 my first act was to pick up a handkerchief4 ,the one who dropped it had only gone three steps4 ,running after him ,i returned it to him4 ,he took it without appearing surprised2 no--the surprise was mine when he handed me an envelope--the same one that you see here4--,will you have the kindness1 he said smilingly1 to write here an address4--,what address8 ,i asked4--,that1 he replied1 of any one you know4--,so saying he placed near me all the materials to write with4 ,wishing to let myself go to exterior influence ,i submitted4 ,but1 as ,i told you1 ,i have few friends in the world4 ,i wrote the first name that came into my head at the moment1 a name quite unknown to me4 ,having written the name ,i bowed--would have walked on--when ,i received a tremendous blow on my face4 ,in my astonishment ,i lost sight of my adversary4 ,when ,i came to myself1 ,i was surrounded by a crowd4 ,all spoke at once4 ,they would not let me alone4 ,i could only rid myself of their attentions by assuring them that ,i was not hurt at all1 even though my jaw caused me terrible pain and my nose was bleeding furiously4 ,the tumefaction of my face confined me to my room for a week4 ,i passed my time thinking3 ,why did he strike me8 ,it must have been a mistake4 ,what could he have against me8 ,i have never hurt anybody2 nobody could wish me ill4--,there must be a reason for ill-will4 ,and if it was not a mistake8--for the first time ,i was thinking4 ,if that blow was intended for me6 ,in any case1 what does it matter6 by mistake or not1 ,i received it and 444 shall ,i return it8 ,i have told you1 ,i am naturally good-hearted4 ,and then there is another thing which worries me3 the man who struck me was much stronger than ,i4 ,when my face was well and ,i could again go out1 ,i looked everywhere for my adversary2 yes1 but it was to avoid him4 ,anyway1 ,i never saw him again1 and if ,i avoided him it was without knowing it4 ,but--and in saying this he leant towards ,prometheus1 you see to-day how everything joins up1 it is becoming more complicated instead of less so3 ,i understand that1 thanks to my blow1 this gentleman has received #bj4 --,ah1 but allow me6 said ,damocles4 --,i am ,cocles1 sir1 said he1 bowing to ,damocles2--,cocles6 and ,i tell you my name1 ,damocles1 for you must certainly be pleased to know to whom you owe your windfall4444 --,but4444 --,yes--,i know3 we will not say to whom2 we will say3 from the suffering of whom4444 ,for understand and do not forget that your gain came from my misfortune4444 --,but4444 --,do not cavil1 ,i beg you4 ,between your gain and my trouble there is a relation2 ,i do not quite know which1 but there is a relation4444 --,but1 sir4444 --,do not call me sir4 --,but1 my dear ,cocles4 --,say simply ,cocles4 --,but once again1 my best ,cocles4444 --,no1 sir1--no1 ,damocles1--and it is no use your talking1 for ,i still wear the mark of the blow on my cheek 444 it is a wound that ,i will show you at once4 ,the conversation becoming disagreeably personal1 the waiter at this moment showed his tact4 ,,iv ,by a clever movement1--simply upsetting a full plate over ,prometheus1--he suddenly diverted the attention of the other two4 ,prometheus could not restrain an exclamation1 and his voice after the others seemed so profound that one realized that up to this minute he had not spoken4 ,the irritation of ,damocles and ,cocles joined forces4 --,but you say nothing--they cried4 ,,prometheus ,,speaks --,oh1 gentlemen1 anything that ,i can say has so little importance4444 ,i do not really see how 444 and then the more ,i think4444 ,no1 truly ,i have nothing to say4 ,you have each of you a history2 ,i have none4 ,excuse me4 ,believe me it is with the greatest interest that ,i have heard you each relate an adventure which ,i wish 444 ,i could4444 ,but ,i cannot even express myself easily4 ,no1 truly you must excuse me1 gentlemen4 ,i have been in ,paris less than two hours2 nothing has as yet happened to me1 except my delightful meeting with you1 which gives me such a good idea of what a conversation can be between two ,parisians1 when they are both men of talent4444 --,but before you came here1 said ,cocles4 --,you must have been somewhere1 added ,damocles4 --,yes1 ,i admit it1 said ,prometheus4444 ,but again1 once more1 it has absolutely no connexion4444 --,never mind1 said ,cocles1 we came here to talk4 ,we have both of us1 ,damocles and ,i1 already given our share2 you alone bring nothing2 you listen2 it is not fair4 ,it is time to speak ,mr44448 ,the waiter1 feeling instinctively that the moment had come for the introduction1 quietly slipped in the name to complete the sentence3 --,prometheus--he said simply4 --,prometheus1 repeated ,damocles4--,excuse me1 sir1 but it seems to me that that name already4444 --,oh6 interrupted ,prometheus quickly1 that is not of the slightest importance4 --,but if there is nothing of importance1 impatiently cried the other two1 why have you come here1 dear ,mr4444 ,mr44448 --,prometheus1 replied ,prometheus simply4 --,dear ,mr4 ,prometheus--as ,i remarked a while ago1 continued ,cocles1 this restaurant invites conversation1 and nothing will convince me that your strange name is the only thing that distinguishes you2 if you have done nothing1 you are surely going to do something4 ,what are you capable of doing8 ,what is the most distinguishing thing about you8 ,what have you that nobody else possesses8 ,why do you call yourself ,prometheus8 ,drowned beneath this flow of questions ,prometheus bent his head and slowly and in a serious voice stammered4443 --,what have ,i1 gentlemen8--,what have ,i8--,oh1 ,i have an eagle4 --,a what8 --,eagle--,vulture perhaps--opinions differ4 --,an eagle6 ,that's funny6--an eagle 444 where is he8 --,you insist on seeing it1 said ,prometheus4 --,yes1 they cried1 if it is not too indiscreet4 99 99 99 99 99 ,then ,prometheus1 quite forgetting where he was1 suddenly started up and gave a great cry1 a call to his eagle4 ,and this stupefying thing happened3 ,,history ,,of ,,the ,,eagle ,a bird which from afar looked enormous1 but which seen close to was not so very big after all1 darkened for a moment the sky above the boulevard and sped like a whirlwind towards the caf2 bursting through the window1 it put out ,cocles' eye with one stroke of its wing and then1 chirruping as it did so1 tenderly indeed but imperiously1 fell with a swoop upon ,prometheus' right side4 ,and ,prometheus forthwith undid his waistcoat and offered his liver to the bird4 ,v ,there was a great disturbance4 ,voices now mingled confusedly1 for some other people had come into the restaurant4 --,but for goodness' sake1 take care6 cried ,cocles4 ,his remark was unheard beneath the loud cries of3 --,that6 an eagle6 ,i don't think66 ,look at that poor gaunt bird6 ,that 444 an eagle6--,not much66 at the most1 a conscience4 ,the fact is that the great eagle was pitiful to see--thin and mangy1 and with drooping wings as it greedily devoured its miserable pittance1 the poor bird seemed as if it had not eaten for three days4 ,others1 nevertheless1 made a fuss and whispered insinuatingly to ,prometheus3 ,but1 sir1 ,i hope you do not think that this eagle distinguishes you in any way4 ,an eagle1 shall ,i tell you8--an eagle1 we all have one4 --,but 444 said another4 --,but we do not bring them to ,paris1 continued another4--,in ,paris it is not the fashion4 ,eagles are a nuisance4 ,you see what it has already done4 ,if it amuses you to let it eat your liver you are at liberty to do so2 but ,i must tell you that it is a painful sight4 ,when you do it you should hide yourself4 ,prometheus1 confused1 murmured3 ,excuse me1 gentlemen1--,oh6 ,i am really sorry4 ,what can ,i do8 --,you ought to get rid of it before you come in1 sir4 ,and some said3 ,smother it4 ,and others3 ,sell it4 ,the newspaper offices are there for nothing else1 sir4 ,and in the tumult which followed no one noticed ,damocles1 who suddenly asked the waiter for the bill4 ,the waiter gave him the following3 #c lunches 7with conversation7 ,fr4 #cj4jj ,shop window #dej4jj ,a glass eye for ,cocles #c4ej 444 and keep the rest for yourself1 said ,damocles1 handing the bank-note to the waiter4 ,then he quickly made off1 beaming with joy4 99 99 99 99 99 ,the end of this chapter is much less interesting4 ,little by little the restaurant became empty4 ,in vain ,prometheus and ,cocles insisted on paying their share of the bill--,damocles had already paid it4 ,prometheus said good-bye to the waiter and ,cocles1 and going back slowly to the ,caucasus he thought3 ,sell it8--,smother it8444 ,tame it perhaps8444 ,,the ,,imprisonment ,,of ,,prometheus ,i ,it was a few days after this that ,prometheus1 denounced by the over-zealous waiter1 found himself in prison for making matches without a licence4 ,the prison was isolated from the rest of the world1 and its only outlook was on to the sky4 ,from the outside it had the appearance of a tower4 ,in the inside ,prometheus was consumed by boredom4 99 99 99 99 99 ,the waiter paid him a visit4 --,oh6 said ,prometheus smiling1 ,i am so happy to see you6 ,i was bored to death4 ,tell me1 you who come from outside2 the wall of this dungeon separates me from everything and ,i know nothing about other people4 ,what is happening8--,and you1 first tell me what you are doing4 --,since your scandal1 replied the waiter nothing much2 hardly anybody has been to the restaurant4 ,we have lost a great deal of time in repairing the window4 --,i am greatly distressed1 said ,prometheus2--but ,damocles8 ,have you seen ,damocles8 ,he left the restaurant so quickly the other day2 ,i was not able to say good-bye4 ,i am so sorry4 ,he seemed a very quiet person1 well-mannered1 and full of scruples2 ,i was touched when he told me so naturally of his trouble4--,i hope when he left the table he was happier8 --,that did not last1 said the waiter4 ,i saw him the next day more uneasy than ever4 ,in talking to me he cried4 ,his greatest anxiety was the health of ,cocles4 --,is he unwell8 asked ,prometheus4 --,cocles8--,oh no1 replied the waiter4 ,i will say more3 ,he sees better since he sees with only one eye4 ,he shows every one his glass eye1 and is delighted when he is condoled with4 ,when you see him1 tell him that his new eye looks well1 and that he wears it gracefully2 but add how he must have suffered4444 --,he suffers then8 --,yes1 perhaps1 when people do not sympathize with him4 --,but then1 if ,cocles is well and does not suffer1 why is ,damocles anxious8 --,because of that which ,cocles should have suffered4 --,you advise me then strongly4444 --,to say it1 yes1 but ,damocles thinks it1 and that's what kills him4 --,what else does he do8 --,nothing4 ,this unique occupation wears him out4 ,between us1 he is a man obsessed4--,he says that without those #bj ,cocles would not be miserable4 --,and ,cocles8 --,he says the same4444 ,but he has become rich4 --,really 444 how8 --,oh6 ,i do not know exactly2--but he has been talked about in the papers2 and a subscription has been opened in his favour4 --,and what does he do with it8 --,he is an artful fellow4 ,with the money collected he thinks of founding a hospital4 --,a hospital8 --,yes1 a small hospital for the one eyed4 ,he has made himself director of it4 --,ah bah6 cried ,prometheus2 you interest me enormously4 --,i hoped you would be interested1 said the waiter4 --,and tell me 444 the ,miglionaire8 --,oh6 he1 he is a wonderful chap6--,if you imagine that all that upsets him6 ,he is like me3 he observes4444 ,if it would amuse you1 ,i will introduce you to him--when you come out of this4444 --,well1 by the way1 why am ,i here8 ,prometheus said at last4 ,what am ,i accused of8 ,do you know1 waiter1 you seem to know everything8 --,my goodness no1 pretended the waiter4 ,all that ,i know is that it is only preliminary detention4 ,after they have condemned you1 you will know4 --,well1 so much the better6 said ,prometheus4 ,i always prefer to know4 --,good-bye1 said the waiter2 it is late4 ,with you it is astonishing how the time flies4444 ,but tell me3 your eagle8 ,what has become of him8 --,bless me6 ,i have thought no more of him1 said ,prometheus4 ,but when the waiter had gone ,prometheus began to think of his eagle4 ,,he ,,must ,,increase ,,but ,i ,,must ,,decrease ,and as ,prometheus was bored in the evening1 he called his eagle4--,the eagle came4 --,i have waited a long time for thee1 said ,prometheus4 ,why didst thou not call me before8 replied the eagle4 ,for the first time ,prometheus looked at his eagle1 casually perched upon the twisted bars of the dungeon4 ,in the golden light of the sunset he appeared more spiritless than ever2 he was grey1 ugly1 stunted1 surly1 resigned1 and miserable2 he seemed too feeble to fly1 seeing which ,prometheus cried with pity4 --,faithful bird1 he said to him1 dost thou suffer8--tell me3 what is the matter8 --,i am hungry1 said the eagle4 --,eat1 said ,prometheus1 uncovering his liver4 ,the bird ate4 --,i suffer1 said ,prometheus4 ,but the eagle said nothing more that day4 ,,ii ,the next day at sunrise ,prometheus longed for his eagle2 he called it from the depth of the reddening dawn1 and as the sun rose the eagle appeared4 ,he had three more feathers and ,prometheus sobbed with tenderness4 --,how late thou comest1 he said1 caressing his feathers4 --,it is because ,i cannot yet fly very fast1 said the bird4 ,i skim the ground4444 --,why8 --,i am so weak6 --,what dost thou want to make thee fly faster8 --,thy liver4 --,very well1 eat4 ,the next day the eagle had eight more feathers and a few days after he arrived before the dawn4 ,prometheus himself became very thin4 --,tell me of the world1 he said to the eagle4 ,what has happened to all the others8 --,oh6 now ,i fly very high1 replied the eagle2 ,i see nothing but the sky and thee4 ,his wings had grown slowly bigger4 --,lovely bird1 what hast thou to tell me this morning8 --,i have carried my hunger through the air4 --,eagle1 wilt thou never be less cruel8 --,no6 ,but ,i may become very beautiful4 ,prometheus1 enamoured of the future beauty of his eagle1 gave him each day more to eat4 ,one evening the eagle did not leave him4 ,the next day it was the same4 ,he fascinated the prisoner by his gnawings2 and1 the prisoner1 who fascinated him by his caresses1 languished and pined away for love1 all day caressing his feathers1 sleeping at night beneath his wings1 and feeding him as he desired4--,the eagle did not stir night or day4 --,sweet eagle1 who would have believed it8 --,believed what8 --,that our love could be so charming4 --,ah6 ,prometheus4444 --,tell me1 my sweet bird6 ,why am ,i shut up here8 --,what does that matter to thee8 ,am ,i not with thee8 --,yes2 it matters little6 but art thou pleased with me1 beautiful eagle8 --,yes1 if thou thinkest ,i am beautiful4 ,,iii ,it was spring-time2 around the bars of the tower the fragrant wisteria was in flower4 --,one day we will go away1 said the eagle4 --,really8 cried ,prometheus4 --,because ,i am now very strong and thou art thinner4 ,i can carry thee4 --,eagle1 my eagle6444 ,take me away4 ,and the eagle carried him away4 ,a ,,chapter ,,while ,,waiting ,,the ,,next ,,one ,that evening ,cocles and ,damocles met each other4 ,they chatted together2 but with a certain embarrassment4 --,what can you expect8 said ,cocles1 our points of view are so opposed4 --,do you think so8 replied ,damocles4 ,my only desire is that we understand each other4 --,you say that1 but you only understand yourself4 --,and you1 you do not even listen to what ,i say4 --,i know all that you would say4 --,say it then if you know it4 --,you pretend to know it better than ,i do4 --,alas6 ,cocles1 you get cross2--but for the love of ,god tell me what ought ,i to do8 --,ah6 nothing more for me1 ,i beg you2 you have already given me a glass eye4444 --,glass1 in lack of a better1 my ,cocles4 --,yes--after having half blinded me4 --,but it was not ,i1 dear ,cocles4 --,it was more or less2 and in any case you can pay for the eye--thanks to my blow4 --,cocles6 forget the past6444 --,no doubt it pleases you to forget4 --,that's not what ,i mean to say to you4 --,but what do you mean to say then8 ,go on1 speak6 --,you do not listen to me4 --,because ,i know all that you would say6444 ,the discussion1 for want of something new began to take a dangerous turn1 when both men were suddenly arrested by an advertisement which ran as follows3 ,,this ,,evening ,,at #h ,o',,clock ,,in ,,the ,,hall ,,of ,,the ,,new ,,moons ,,prometheus ,,delivered ,,will ,,speak ,,of ,,his ,,eagle ,at #h4cj the ,eagle will be presented and will perform some tricks4 ,at #i o'clock a collection will be made by the waiter on behalf of ,cocles' hospital4 --,i must see that1 said ,cocles4 --,i will go with you1 said ,damocles4 ,,iv ,in the ,hall of the ,new ,moons1 at eight o'clock precisely1 the crowd gathered4 ,cocles sat on the left2 ,damocles on the right2 and the rest of the public in the middle4 ,a thunder of applause greeted the entry of ,prometheus2 he mounted the steps of the platform1 placed his eagle at the side of him1 and pulled himself together4 ,in the hall there was a palpitating silence4444 ,,the ,,petitio ,,principii --,gentlemen1 began ,prometheus1 ,i do not pretend1 alas6 to interest you by what ,i am about to say1 so ,i was careful to bring this eagle with me4 ,after each tiresome part of my lecture he will play some tricks4 ,i have also with me some indecent photographs and some fireworks1 with which when ,i reach the most serious moments of my lecture ,i will try to distract the attention of the public4 ,thus1 ,i dare to hope1 gentlemen1 for some attention4 ,at each new head of my discourse ,i shall have the honour1 gentlemen1 to ask you to watch the eagle eating his dinner1--for1 gentlemen1 my discourse has three heads2 ,i did not think it proper to reject this form1 which is agreeable to my classical mind4--,this being the exordium1 ,i will tell you at once and without more ado1 the first two heads of the discourse3 ,first head3 ,one must have an eagle4 ,second head3 ,in any case1 we all have one4 ,fearing that you will accuse me of prejudice1 gentlemen2 fearing also to interfere with my liberty of thought1 ,i have prepared my lecture only up to that point2 the third head will naturally unfold from the other two4 ,i will let inspiration have all its own way4--,as conclusion1 the eagle1 gentlemen1 will make the collection4 --,bravo6 ,bravo6 cried ,cocles4 ,prometheus drank a little water4 ,the eagle pirouetted three times round ,prometheus and then bowed4 ,prometheus looked round the hall1 smiled at ,damocles and at ,cocles1 and as no sign of restlessness was as yet shown he kept the fireworks for later on1 and continued3 ,v --,however clever a rhetorician ,i may be gentlemen1 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 lecture4 ,gentlemen1 try as we may1 we cannot escape the petitio principii4 ,now2 what is a petition of principles8 ,gentlemen1 ,i dare to say it3 ,every petitio principii is an affirmation of temperament2 for where principles are missing1 there the temperament is affirmed4 ,when ,i declare3 ,you must have an eagle you may all exclaim3 ,why8--,now1 what answer can ,i make in reply that will not bring us back to that formula1 which is the affirmation of my temperament3 ,i do not love men3 ,i love that which devours them4 ,temperament1 gentlemen1 is that which must affirm itself4 ,a fresh petitio principii1 you will say4 ,but ,i have demonstrated that every petitio principii is an affirmation of temperament2 and as ,i say one must affirm one's temperament 7for it is important71 ,i repeat3 ,i do not love men3 ,i love that which devours them4--,now what devours man8--,his eagle4 ,therefore1 gentlemen1 one must have an eagle4 ,i think ,i have fully demonstrated this4 444 ,alas6 ,i see1 gentlemen1 that ,i bore you2 some of you are yawning4 ,i could1 it is true1 here make a few jokes2 but you would feel them out of place2 ,i have an irredeemably serious mind4 ,i prefer to circulate among you some indecent photographs2 they will keep those quiet who are feeling bored1 which will enable me to go on4 ,prometheus drank a drop of water4 ,the eagle pirouetted three times round ,prometheus and bowed4 ,prometheus went on3 ,,continuation ,,of ,,prometheus' ,,lecture --,gentlemen1 ,i have not always known my eagle4 ,that is what makes me deduce1 by a process of reasoning which the logic books ,i never studied till a week ago1 call by some particular name ,i have forgotten--that is what makes me deduce1 ,i say1 that1 even though the only eagle here is mine1 you all1 gentlemen1 have an eagle4 ,i have said nothing1 up to the present1 of my own history2 firstly because1 up to the present1 ,i have not understood it4 ,and if ,i decide to speak of it now it is because1 thanks to my eagle1 it now appears to me marvellous4 ,,vi --,gentlemen1 as ,i have already said1 my eagle was not always with me4 ,before his time ,i was unconscious and beautiful1 happy and naked and unaware4 ,oh6 ,charming days6 ,on the many-fountained sides of the ,caucasus1 lascivious ,asia1 naked too and unaware1 held me in her arms4 ,together we sported1 tumbling in the valleys2 the air sang1 the water laughed1 the simplest flowers were fragrant for our delight4 ,and often we lay beneath spreading branches1 among flowers which were the haunt of murmuring bees4 ,asia wedded me1 all laughter and then the murmuring swarms and the rustling leaves1 with which was mingled the music of the streams1 gently lulled us to the sweetest of slumbers4 ,around us all consented--all protected our inhuman solitude4--,suddenly one day ,asia said to me3 ,you should interest yourself in men4 ,i first had to find them4 ,i was willing enough to interest myself in them--but it was to pity them4 ,they lived in such darkness2 ,i invented for them certain kinds of fire1 and from that moment my eagle began4 ,and it is since that day that ,i have become aware that ,i am naked4 ,at these words1 applause arose from various parts of the hall4 ,all of a sudden ,prometheus broke into sobs4 ,the eagle flapped his wings and cooed4 ,with an agonizing gesture ,prometheus opened his waistcoat and offered his tortured liver to the bird4 ,the applause redoubled4 ,then the eagle pirouetted three times round ,prometheus1 who drank a few drops of water1 and continued his lecture in these words3 ,,vii --,gentlemen1 my modesty overcame me4 ,excuse me1 it is the first time ,i speak in public4 ,but now it is my sincerity which overcomes me4 ,gentlemen1 ,i have been more interested in men than ,i have ever admitted4 ,gentlemen1 ,i have done a great deal for men4 ,gentlemen1 ,i have passionately1 wildly1 and deplorably loved men--and ,i have done so much for them--one can almost say that ,i have made them2 for before1 what were they8 ,they existed1 but had no consciousness of existence2 ,i made this consciousness like a fire to enlighten them1 gentlemen2 ,i made it with all the love ,i bore them4--,the first consciousness they had was that of their beauty4 ,it is this which caused the propagation of the race4 ,men were prolonged in their posterity4 ,the beauty of the first was repeated1 equally1 indifferently1 uneventfully4 ,it could have lasted a long time4--,then ,i grew anxious1 for ,i carried in me already1 without knowing it1 my eagle's egg and ,i wanted more or better4 ,this propagation1 this piecemeal prolongation1 seemed to me to indicate in them an expectancy--when in reality only my eagle was waiting4 ,i did not know2 that expectancy ,i thought was in man2 that expectancy ,i put in man4 ,besides1 having made man in my image1 ,i now understood that in every man there was something hatching2 in each one was the eagle's egg4444 ,and then1 ,i do not know2 ,i cannot explain this4--,all that ,i know is that1 not satisfied with giving them consciousness of existence1 ,i also wished to give them a reason for existence4 ,so ,i gave them ,fire1 flame and all the arts which a flame nourishes4 ,by warming their minds1 ,i brought forth the devouring faith in progress4 ,and ,i was strangely happy when their health was consumed in producing it4 ,no more belief in good1 but the morbid hope for better4 ,the belief in progress1 gentlemen1 that was their eagle4 ,our eagle is our reason for existence1 gentlemen4 ,man's happiness grew less and less--but that was nothing to me3 the eagle was born1 gentlemen6 ,i loved men no more1 ,i loved what fed on them4 ,i had had enough of a humanity without history4444 ,the history of man is the history of their eagles1 gentlemen4 ,,viii ,applause broke out here and there4 ,prometheus1 abashed1 excused himself3 --,gentlemen1 ,i was lying3 pardon me3 it did not happen quite so quickly3 ,no1 ,i have not always loved eagles3 ,for a long time ,i preferred men2 their injured happiness was dear to me1 because once having interfered ,i believed myself responsible1 and in the evening every time ,i thought of it1 my eagle1 sad as remorse1 came to eat4 ,he was at this time gaunt and grey1 careworn and morose1 and he was as ugly as a vulture4--,gentlemen1 look at him now and understand why ,i tell you this2 why ,i asked you to come here2 why ,i entreat you to listen to me4 ,it is because ,i have discovered this3 the eagle can become very beautiful4 ,now1 every one of us has an eagle2 as ,i have just most earnestly asserted4 ,an eagle8--,alas1 a vulture perhaps6 no1 no1 not a vulture1 gentlemen6--,gentlemen1 you must have an eagle4444 99 99 99 99 99 ,and now ,i touch the most serious question3--,why an eagle8444 ,ah6 ,why8--let him say why4 ,here is mine1 gentlemen2 ,i bring him to you4444 ,eagle6 ,will you reply now8 ,anxiously ,prometheus turned towards his eagle4 ,the eagle was motionless and remained silent4444 ,prometheus continued in a distressed voice3 --,gentlemen1 gentlemen1 ,i have vainly questioned my eagle4444 ,eagle6 speak now3 every one listens to you4444 ,who sends you8 ,why have you chosen me8 ,where do you come from8 ,where do you go to8 ,speak3 ,what is your nature8 7,the eagle remained silent47 ,no1 nothing6 ,not a word6 ,not a cry6--,i hoped he would speak to you at any rate2 that is why ,i brought him with me4444 ,must ,i speak alone here8--,all is silence6--,all is silence6 ,what does it mean8444 ,i have questioned in vain4 ,then turning towards the audience3 ,oh6 ,i hoped1 gentlemen1 that you would love my eagle1 that your love would affirm his beauty4--,that is why ,i gave myself up to him1 that is why ,i filled him with the blood of my soul4444 ,but ,i see ,i am alone in admiring him4 ,is it not enough for you that he is beautiful8 ,or do you not admit his beauty8 ,look at him at least4 ,i have lived only for him--and now ,i bring him to you3 ,there he is6 ,as for me ,i live for him--but he 444 but he1 why does he live8 ,eagle that ,i have nourished with the blood of my soul1 whom with all my love ,i have caressed 444 7here ,prometheus was interrupted by sobs7--must ,i then leave the earth without knowing why ,i loved you1 nor what you will do1 nor what you will be1 after me on the earth 444 on the earth8 ,i have 444 asked in vain 444 in vain4444 ,the words choked in his throat--his voice could not be heard through his tears4--,pardon me1 gentlemen1--he continued a little calmer2 pardon me for saying such serious things1 but if ,i knew more serious ones ,i would say them4444 ,perspiring1 ,prometheus wiped his face1 drank some water1 and added3 ,,the ,,end ,,of ,,prometheus' ,,lecture --,i have only prepared my lecture up to this point4444 444 ,at these words there was a rustling among the audience2 several1 feeling bored1 wished to go out4 --,gentlemen1 cried ,prometheus1 ,i beseech you to stay1 it will not be very long now2 but the most important thing of all remains to be said1 if ,i have not already persuaded you4444 ,gentlemen6--for goodness' sake4444 ,here6 quickly3 a few fireworks2 ,i will keep the best for the end4444 ,gentlemen6--sit down again1 ,i pray you2 look3 do not think ,i want to economize3 ,i light six at a time4--,but first1 waiter1 shut the doors4 ,the fireworks were more or less effective4 ,nearly every one sat down again4 --,but where was ,i8 cried ,prometheus4 ,i counted upon getting under weigh2 disturbance has checked me4 --,so much the better1 cried some one4 --,ah6 ,i know 444 continued ,prometheus4 ,i wished to tell you again4444 --,enough6 enough66 cried voices from all parts of the hall4 444 ,that you must love your eagle4 ,several cried 8,why80 ironically4 --,i hear1 gentlemen1 some one asks me 8,why80 ,i reply3 ,because then he will become beautiful4 --,but if we become ugly8 --,gentlemen1 ,i do not speak here words of self-interest4444 --,one can see that4 --,they are words of self-devotion4 ,gentlemen1 one must devote oneself to one's eagle4444 7,agitation--many get up47 ,gentlemen1 do not move3 ,i will be personal4 ,it is not necessary to remind you of the history of ,cocles and ,damocles4--,all here know it4 ,well--,well6 ,i will tell them to their faces3 the secret of their lives is in their self-devotion to their debt3 ,you1 ,cocles1 to your blow2 you1 ,damocles1 to your bank-note4 ,cocles1 your duty was to make your scar deeper and your empty orbit emptier1 oh6 ,cocles6 yours1 ,damocles1 to keep your bank-note1 to continue owing it1 owing it without shame1 owing even more1 owing it with joy4 ,there is your eagle2 there are other and more glorious ones4 ,but ,i tell you this3 the eagle will devour us anyway--vice or virtue--duty or passion1--cease to be commonplace and you cannot escape it4 ,but4444 7,here the voice of ,prometheus was barely heard in the tumult7--but if you do not feed your eagle lovingly he will remain grey and miserable1 invisible to all and sly2 then you will call him conscience1 not worthy of the torments he causes2 without beauty4--,gentlemen1 you must love your eagle1 love him to make him beautiful2 for it is for his future beauty that you must love your eagle4444 ,now ,i have finished1 gentlemen1 my eagle will make the collection4 ,gentlemen1 you must love my eagle4--,in the meantime ,i will let off some fireworks4444 99 99 99 99 99 ,thanks to the pyrotechnic diversion1 the assembly dispersed without too much trouble2 but ,damocles took cold on coming out of the hall4 ,,the ,,illness ,,of ,,damocles ,i --,you know that he is not at all well1 said the waiter1 seeing ,prometheus a few days later4 --,who8 --,damocles--,oh6 very bad3--it was coming out after your lecture that he was taken ill4444 --,but what is the matter8 --,the doctors hesitate2--it is a very unusual illness 444 a shrinkage of the spine4444 --,the spine8 --,yes1 the spine4--,at least1 unless a miracle happens he must get worse4 ,he is very low1 ,i assure you1 and you should go and see him4 --,you go very often yourself8 --,i8 ,yes1 every day4--,he is very anxious about ,cocles2 ,i bring him news every day4 --,why doesn't ,cocles go to see him himself8 --,cocles8--,he is too busy4 ,don't you remember your lecture8 ,it has made an extraordinary effect upon him4 ,he talks of nothing but self-devotion1 and passes all his time looking in the streets for another blow1 which may benefit some unknown ,damocles4 ,in vain he offers his other cheek4 --,why not tell the ,miglionaire8 --,i give him news every day4 ,that is really the reason why ,i visit ,damocles every day4 --,why does he not go and see ,damocles himself8 --,that is what ,i tell him1 but he refuses4 ,he does not wish to be known4 ,and yet ,damocles would certainly get well immediately if he knew his benefactor4 ,i tell him all this1 but he insists upon keeping his incognito--and ,i understand now that it is not ,damocles but his illness which interests him4 --,you spoke of introducing me8444 --,yes1 at once1 if you like4 ,they went off immediately4 ,,ii ,not knowing him ourselves1 we have decided not to say very much about the waiter's friend1 ,zeus1 but just to report these few remarks4 ,,interview ,,of ,,the ,,miglionaire ,the waiter3--,is it not true that you are very rich8 ,the ,miglionaire1 half turning towards ,prometheus3--,i am richer than you can ever imagine4 ,you belong to me2 he belongs to me2 everything belongs to me4--,you think ,i am a banker2 ,i am really something quite different4 ,my effect on ,paris is hidden1 but it is none the less important4 ,it is hidden because it is not continuous4 ,yes1 ,i have above all the spirit of initiative4 ,i launch2 then1 once the affair is set going1 ,i leave it2 ,i have nothing more to do with it4 ,the waiter3--,isn't it true that your actions are gratuitous8 ,the ,miglionaire3--,it is only ,i1 only a person whose fortune is infinite1 who can act with absolute disinterestedness2 for man it is impossible4 ,from that comes my love of gambling2 ,i do not gamble for gain1 you understand--,i gamble for the pleasure of gambling4 ,what could ,i gain that ,i do not possess already8 ,even time4444 ,do you know my age8 ,prometheus and the waiter3--,you appear still young1 sir4 ,the ,miglionaire3--,well1 do not interrupt me1 ,prometheus4--,yes1 ,i have a passion for gambling4 ,my game is to lend to men4 ,i lend1 but it is not for pleasure4 ,i lend1 but it is sinking the capital4 ,i lend1 but with an air of giving4--,i do not wish it known that ,i lend4 ,i play1 but ,i hide my game4 ,i experiment2 ,i play1 as a ,dutchman sows his seed2 as he plants a secret bulb2 that which ,i lend to men1 that which ,i plant in man1 ,i amuse myself by watching it grow2 without that1 man would be so empty6--,let me tell you my most recent experience4 ,you will help me to analyse it4 ,just listen1 you will understand later4 ,i went down into the street with the idea of making some one suffer for a gift ,i would make to another2 to make one happy by the suffering of the other4 ,a blow and a note of #bj was all that was necessary4 ,to one the blow1 and to the other the note4 ,is it clear8 ,what is less clear is the way of giving them4 --,i know it already1 interrupted ,prometheus4 --,oh1 really1 you know of it1 said ,zeus4 --,i have met both ,damocles and ,cocles2 it is precisely about them that ,i have come to speak to you3--,damocles looks and calls for you1 he is very anxious2 he is ill2--for goodness' sake go and see him4 --,sir1 stop--said ,zeus--,i have no need of advice from anybody4 --,what did ,i tell you8 said the waiter4 ,prometheus was going away1 but suddenly turned again3 ,sir1 pardon me4 ,excuse an indiscreet question4 ,oh6 show it to me1 ,i beg you6 ,i should love so much to see it4444 --,what8 --,your eagle4 --,but ,i have no eagle1 sir4 --,no eagle8 ,he has no eagle6 ,but4444 --,not so much of one as ,i can hold in the hollow of my hand4 ,eagles 7and he laughed71 eagles6 ,it is ,i who give them4 ,prometheus was stupefied4 --,do you know what people say8 the waiter asked the banker4 --,what do they say8 --,that you are ,god4 --,i let them say so1 said he4 ,,iii ,prometheus went to see ,damocles2 and then he went very often4 ,he did not talk to him every time2 but in any case the waiter gave him the news4 ,one day he brought ,cocles with him4 ,the waiter received them4 --,well1 how is he8 asked ,prometheus4 --,bad4 ,very bad1 replied the waiter4 ,for three days the miserable man has not been able to take any food4 ,his bank-note torments him2 he looks for it everywhere2 he thinks he may have eaten it2--he takes a purgative and thinks to find it in his stool4 ,when his reason returns and he remembers his adventure1 he is again in despair4 ,he has a grudge against you1 ,cocles1 because he thinks you have so complicated his debt that he no longer knows where he is4 ,most of the time he is delirious4 ,at night there are three of us to watch him1 but he keeps leaping upon his bed1 which prevents us sleeping4 --,can we see him8 said ,cocles4 --,yes1 but you will find him changed4 ,he is devoured by anxiety4 ,he has become thin1 thin1 thin4 ,will you recognize him8--,and will he recognize you8 ,they entered on the tips of their toes4 ,,the ,,last ,,days ,,of ,,damocles ,damocles' bedroom smelt horribly of medicines4 ,low and very narrow1 it was lighted gloomily by two night-lights4 ,in an alcove1 covered with innumerable blankets1 one could see ,damocles tossing about4 ,he spoke all the time1 although there was no one near him4 ,his voice was hoarse and thick4 ,full of horror ,prometheus and ,cocles looked at each other2 he did not hear them approach and continued his moaning as if he were alone4 --,and from that day1 he was saying1 it seemed to me1 both that my life began to have another meaning and that ,i could no longer live6 ,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 others4 ,i only dreamed of getting rid of it--but how8--,the ,savings ,bank6 but this increased my trouble2 my debt was augmented by the interest on the money2 and1 on the other hand1 the idea of letting it stagnate was intolerable to me2 so ,i thought it best to circulate the sum2 ,i carried it always upon me2 regularly every week ,i changed the note into silver1 and then the silver into another note4 ,nothing is lost or gained in this exchange4 ,it is circular insanity4--,and to this was added another torture3 that it was through a blow given to another that ,i received this note6 ,one day1 you know well1 ,i met you in a restaurant4444 --,he is speaking of you1 said the waiter4 --,the eagle of ,prometheus broke the window of the restaurant and put out ,cocles' eye4444 ,saved66--,gratuitously1 fortuitously1 providentially6 ,i will slip my bank-note into the interstices of these events4 ,no more debt6 ,saved6 ,ah6 gentlemen6 what an error4444 ,it was from that day that ,i became a dying man4 ,how can ,i explain this to you8 ,will you ever understand my anguish8 ,i am still in debt for this note1 and now it is no longer in my possession6 ,i tried like a coward to get rid of my debt1 but ,i have not acquitted it4 ,in my nightmares ,i awake covered with perspiration4 ,kneeling down1 ,i cry aloud3 ,lord6 ,lord6 to whom do ,i owe this8 ,i know nothing of it1 but ,i owe--owing is like duty4 ,duty1 gentlemen1 is a horrible thing2 look at me1 ,i am dying of it4 ,and now ,i am more tormented than ever because ,i have passed this debt on to you1 ,cocles4444 ,cocles6 it does not belong to you that eye1 as the money it was bought with did not belong to me4 ,and what hast thou that thou didst not receive8 says the ,bible 444 received from whom8 whom88 ,whom88444 ,my distress is intolerable4 ,the wretched man spoke in short1 sharp jerks2 his voice grew inarticulate1 choked as it was by gasps1 sobs and tears4 ,anxiously ,prometheus and ,cocles listened2 they took each other's hand and trembled4 ,damocles said1 seeming to see them3 ,debt is a terrible duty1 gentlemen 444 but how much more terrible is the remorse of having wished to evade a duty4444 ,as if the debt could cease to exist because it was transferred to another4444 ,but your eye burns you1 ,cocles6--,cocles66 ,i am certain it burns you1 your glass eye2 tear it out6--,if it does not burn you1 it ought to burn you1 for it is not yours--your eye 444 and if it is not yours it must be your brother's 444 whose is it8 whose8 ,whose88 ,the miserable man wept2 he became delirious and lost strength2 now and again fixing his eyes on ,prometheus and ,cocles he seemed to recognize them1 crying3 --,but understand me for pity's sake6 ,the pity ,i claim from you is not simply a compress on my forehead1 a bowl of fresh water1 a soothing drink2 it is to understand me4 ,help me to understand myself1 for pity's sake6 ,this which has come to me from ,i know not where1 to whom do ,i owe it8 to whom88 to ,whom88--,and1 in order to cease one day from owing it one day1 believing1 ,i made with this a present to others6 ,to others66--to ,cocles--the gift of an eye66 but it is not yours1 that eye1 ,cocles6 ,cocles66 give it back4 ,give it back1 but to whom8 to whom8 to ,whom88 ,not wishing to hear more1 ,cocles and ,prometheus went away4 ,,iv --,there1 you see1 said ,cocles1 coming down the stairs1 the fate of a man who has grown rich by another's suffering4 --,but is it true that you suffer8 asked ,prometheus4 --,from my eye occasionally1 said ,cocles1 but from the blow1 no more2 ,i prefer to have received it4 ,it does not burn any more2 it has revealed to me my goodness4 ,i am flattered by it2 ,i am pleased about it4 ,i never cease to think that my pain was useful to my neighbour and that it brought him #bj4 --,but the neighbour is dying of it1 ,cocles1 said ,prometheus4 --,did you not tell him that one must nourish one's eagle8 ,what do you expect8 ,damocles and ,i never could understand each other1 our points of view are entirely opposed4 ,prometheus said good-bye to ,cocles and ran to the house of ,zeus1 the banker4 --,for goodness' sake1 show yourself6 he said1 or at least make yourself known4 ,the miserable man is dying4 ,i could understand your killing him since that is your pleasure2 but let him know at least who it is that is killing him--that he may be at peace4 ,the ,miglionaire replied3--,i do not wish to lose my prestige4 ,v ,the end of ,damocles was admirable2 he pronounced a little while before his last hour some words which drew tears from the most unbelieving and made pious people say3 ,how edifying6 ,the most notable sentiment was the one expressed so well in these words3 ,i hope at any rate that he will not have felt the loss of it4 --,who8 asked some one4 --,he1 said ,damocles1 dying2 he who gave me 444 something4 --,no6 it was ,providence1 cleverly replied the waiter4 ,damocles died after hearing these comforting words4 ,,the ,,funeral --,oh6 said ,prometheus to ,cocles1 leaving the chamber of death1--all that is horrible6 ,the death of ,damocles upsets me4 ,is it true that my lecture can have been the cause of his illness8 --,i cannot say1 said the waiter1 but ,i know that at any rate he was greatly moved by all that you said of your eagle4 --,of our eagle1 replied ,cocles4 --,i was so convinced1 said ,prometheus4 --,that is why you convinced him4444 ,your words were very strong4 --,i thought that no one paid any attention and ,i insisted4444 ,if ,i had known that he would listen so attentively4444 --,what would you have said8 --,the same thing1 stammered ,prometheus4 --,then8 --,but ,i would not say the same thing now4 --,are you no longer convinced8 --,damocles was too much so4444 ,i have other ideas about my eagle4 --,by the way1 where is he8 --,do not fear1 ,cocles4 ,i have my eye on him4 --,good-bye4 ,i shall wear mourning1 said ,cocles4 ,when shall we see each other again8 --,but 444 at the funeral1 ,i suppose4 ,i will make a speech there4 ,i ought to repair in some way the damage ,i have done4 ,and afterwards ,i invite you to the funeral feast in the restaurant exactly where we saw ,damocles for the first time4 ,,vi ,at the funeral there were not many people2 ,damocles was very little known2 his death passed unnoticed except for those few interested in his history4 ,prometheus1 the waiter1 and ,cocles found themselves at the cemetery1 also a few idle listeners of the lecture4 ,every one looked at ,prometheus1 as they knew he was to speak2 and they said3 8,what will he say80 for they remembered what he had said before4 ,before ,prometheus began to speak great astonishment was caused by the fact that he was unrecognizable2 he was fat1 fresh1 smiling2 smiling so much that his conduct was judged a little indecent1 as smiling still he advanced to the edge of the grave1 turned his back on it1 and spoke these simple words3 ,,the ,,history ,,of ,,tityrus --,gentlemen who are kind enough to listen to me1 the words of ,scripture which serve as text for my brief discourse to-day are these3 ,let the dead bury their dead4 ,we will therefore occupy ourselves no more with ,damocles4--,the last time that ,i saw you all together was to hear me speak of my eagle2 ,damocles died of it2 leave the dead 444 it is nevertheless because of him1 or rather thanks to his death1 that now ,i have killed my eagle4444 --,killed his eagle666 cried every one4 --,that reminds me of an anecdote4444 ,let us grant ,i have said nothing4 ,i ,in the beginning was ,tityrus4 ,and ,tityrus being alone and completely surrounded by swamps was bored4--,then ,menalcas passed by1 who put an idea into the head of ,tityrus1 a seed in the swamp before him4 ,and this idea was the seed and this seed was the ,idea4 ,and with the help of ,god the seed germinated and became a little plant1 and ,tityrus in the evening and in the morning knelt before it1 thanking ,god for having given it to him4 ,and the plant became tall and great1 and as it had powerful roots it very soon completely dried up the soil around it1 and thus ,tityrus had at last firm earth on which to set his feet1 rest his head1 and strengthen the works of his hands4 ,when this plant had grown to the height of ,tityrus1 ,tityrus tasted the joy of sleeping stretched under its shadow4 ,now1 this tree1 being an oak-tree1 grew enormously2 so much so that soon ,tityrus' hands were no longer sufficient to till and hoe the earth around the oak--to water the oak1 to prune1 to trim1 to decorticate1 to destroy the caterpillars1 and to ensure in due season the picking of its many and diverse fruits4 ,he engaged1 therefore1 a tiller and a hoer1 and a trimmer and a decorticator1 and a man to destroy the caterpillars1 and a man to water the oak1 and two or three fruit boys4 ,and as each had to keep strictly to his own speciality1 there was a chance of each person's work being well done4 ,in order to arrange for the paying of the wages1 ,tityrus had to have an accountant1 who soon shared with a cashier the worries of ,tityrus' fortune2 this grew like the oak4 ,certain arguments arising between the trimmer1 and the pruner1 and the depilator--as to where each man's work began and finished1 ,tityrus saw the necessity of an arbitrator1 who called for two lawyers to expose both sides of the question4 ,tityrus took a secretary to record their judgments1 and as they were only recorded for future reference1 there had to be a keeper of the rolls4 ,on the soil meanwhile houses appeared one by one1 and it was necessary to have police for the streets1 to guard against excesses4 ,tityrus1 overcome by work1 began to feel ill4 ,he sent for a doctor who told him to take a wife--and finding the work too much for him1 ,tityrus was forced to choose a sheriff1 and he himself was therefore appointed mayor4 ,from this time he had only very few hours of leisure1 when he could fish with a line from the windows of his house1 which still continued to open on the swamp4 ,then ,tityrus instituted bank holidays so that his people might enjoy themselves2 but as this was expensive and no one was very rich1 ,tityrus1 in order to be able to lend them all money1 first began by raising it from each of them separately4 ,now the oak in the middle of the plain 7for in spite of the town1 in spite of the effort of so many men1 it had never ceased to be the plain71 the oak1 as ,i said1 in the middle of the plain1 had no difficulty in being placed so that one of its sides was in shadow and the other in the sunshine4 ,under the oak then1 on the shady side ,tityrus rendered justice2 on the sunny side he fulfilled his natural necessities4 ,and ,tityrus was happy1 for he felt his life was useful to others and fully occupied4 ,,ii ,man's effort can be intensified4 ,tityrus' activity seemed to grow with encouragement2 his natural ingenuity caused him to think of other means of employment4 ,he set to work to furnish and decorate his house4 ,the suitable character of the hangings and the convenience of each object were much admired4 ,industrious1 he excelled in empiricism2 he even made a little hook to hang his sponges on the wall1 which after four days he found perfectly useless4 ,then ,tityrus built another room by the side of his room1 where he could arrange the affairs of the nation2 the two rooms had the same entrance1 to indicate that their interests were the same2 but because of the one entrance which supplied both rooms with air1 the two chimneys would not draw at the same time1 so that when it was cold and a fire was lighted in one1 the other was full of smoke4 ,the days therefore that he wished for a fire1 ,tityrus was forced to open his window4 ,as ,tityrus protected everything and worked for the propagation of the species1 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 resigned4 ,he invited a woman with a circulating library to come to the town1 with whom he opened a subscription4 ,and as she was called ,angle he became accustomed to go there every three days and pass his evenings with her4 ,and by this means ,tityrus learnt metaphysics1 algebra1 and theodicy4 ,tityrus and ,angle began to practise together successfully various accomplishments1 and ,angle showing particular taste for music1 they hired a grand piano upon which ,angle played the little tunes which between times he composed for her4 ,tityrus said to ,angle3 ,so many occupations will kill me4 ,i am at the end of my tether2 ,i feel that ,i am getting used up1 these consolidated interests intensify my scruples1 and as my scruples grow greater ,i grow less4 ,what is to be done8 --,shall we go away8 said ,angle to him4 --,i cannot go3 ,i have my oak4 --,suppose you were to leave it1 said ,angle4 --,leave my oak6 ,you don't mean it6 --,is it not large enough now to grow alone8 --,but ,i am attached to it4 --,become unattached1 replied ,angle4 ,and a little while after1 having realized strongly that after all1 occupations1 responsibilities1 and other scruples could hold him no more than the oak1 ,tityrus smiled and went off1 taking with him the cash-box and ,angle1 and towards the end of the day walked with her down the boulevard which leads from the ,madeleine to the ,opra4 ,,iii ,that evening the boulevard had a strange look4 ,one felt that something unusually grave was going to happen4 ,an enormous crowd1 serious and anxious1 overflowed the pavement1 spreading on to the road1 which the ,paris police1 placed at intervals1 with great trouble kept free4 ,before the restaurants1 the terraces disproportionately enlarged by the placing of chairs and tables1 made the obstruction more complete and rendered circulation impossible4 ,now and again an onlooker impatiently stood upon his chair for an instant--the time that one could beg him to get down4 ,evidently all were waiting2 one felt without doubt that between the two pavements upon the protected route something was going to pass4 ,having found a table with great difficulty and paid a large price for it1 ,angle and ,tityrus installed themselves in front of two glasses of beer and asked the waiter3 --,what are they all waiting for8 --,where does your lordship come from8 said the waiter4 ,does not your lordship know that every one is waiting to see ,meliboeus8 ,he will pass by between #e and #f 444 and there--listen3 ,i believe one can already hear his flute4 ,from the depths of the boulevard the frail notes of a pipe were heard4 ,the crowd thrilled with still greater attention4 ,the sound increased1 came nearer1 grew louder and louder4 --,oh1 how it moves me6 said ,angle4 ,the setting sun soon threw its rays from one end of the boulevard to the other4 ,and1 as if issuing from the splendour of the setting sun1 ,meliboeus was at last seen advancing--preceded by the simple sound of his flute4 ,at first nothing could be clearly distinguished but his figure1 but when he drew nearer3 --,oh1 how charming he is6 said ,angle4 ,in the meantime ,meliboeus as he arrived opposite ,tityrus1 ceased to play his flute1 stopped suddenly1 saw ,angle1 and every one realized that he was naked4 ,oh6 said ,angle1 leaning upon ,tityrus1 how beautiful he is6 what strong thighs he has6 ,his playing is adorable6 ,tityrus felt a little uncomfortable4 --,ask him where he is going1 said ,angle4 --,where are you going8 questioned ,tityrus4 ,meliboeus replied3--,eo ,romam4 --,what does he say8 asked ,angle4 ,tityrus3--,you would not understand1 my dear4 --,but you can explain it to me1 said ,angle4 --,romam1 insisted ,meliboeus4444 ,urbem quam dicunt ,romam4 ,angle3--,oh1 it sounds delicious6 ,what does it mean8 ,tityrus3--,but my dear ,angle1 ,i assure you it is not so delightful as it sounds2 it means quite simply that he is going to ,rome4 --,rome6 said ,angle dreamily4 ,oh1 ,i should love so much to see ,rome6 ,meliboeus1 resuming his flute1 once more began to play his primval melody1 and at the sound1 ,angle1 in a passion of excitement1 raised herself1 stood up1 drew near2 and as ,meliboeus' arm was bent to her hand1 she took it1 and thus the two together went on their way along the boulevard2 further1 further they went1 gradually vanished from sight1 and disappeared into the finality of the twilit dusk4 ,the crowd1 now unbridled in its agitation1 became more and more tumultuous4 ,on all sides one heard the questions3 ,what did he say8--,what did he do8--,who was that woman8--,and when1 a few minutes later1 the evening papers appeared1 a furious curiosity swept over them like a cyclone1 and it was suddenly divulged that the woman was ,angle1 and that this ,meliboeus was a naked person who was going to ,italy4 ,then1 all their curiosity having died down1 the crowd streamed off like water flowing away and the main boulevards were deserted4 ,and ,tityrus found himself alone1 completely surrounded by the swamp4 ,let us grant that ,i have said nothing4 99 99 99 99 99 ,an irrepressible laughter shook the audience for several seconds4 --,gentlemen1 ,i am happy that my story has amused you1 said ,prometheus1 laughing also4 ,since the death of ,damocles ,i have found the secret of laughter4 ,for the present ,i have finished1 gentlemen4 ,let the dead bury the dead and let us go quickly to lunch4 ,he took the waiter by one arm and ,cocles by the other2 they all left the cemetery2 after passing the gates1 the rest of the assembly dispersed4 --,pardon me1 said ,cocles4 ,your story was charming1 and you made us laugh4444 ,but ,i do not quite understand the connexion4444 --,if there had been more you would not have laughed so much1 said ,prometheus4 ,do not look for too much meaning in all this4 ,i wanted above all to distract you1 and ,i am happy to have done so2 surely ,i owed you that8 ,i wearied you so the other day4 ,they found themselves on the boulevards4 --,where are we going8 said the waiter4 --,to your restaurant1 if you do not mind1 in memory of our first meeting4 --,you are passing it1 said the waiter4 --,i do not recognize it4 --,it is all new now4 --,oh1 ,i forgot6444 ,i forgot that my eagle4444 ,don't trouble3 he will never do it again4 --,is it true1 said ,cocles1 what you say8 --,what8 --,that you have killed him8 --,and that we are going to eat him8444 ,do you doubt it8 said ,prometheus4 ,have you looked at me8--,when he was alive1 did ,i dare to laugh8--,was ,i not horribly thin8 --,certainly4 --,he fed on me long enough4 ,i think now that it is my turn4 --,a table6 ,sit down6 ,sit down1 gentlemen6 --,waiter1 do not serve us3 as a last remembrance1 take the place of ,damocles4 99 99 99 99 99 ,the meal was more joyful than it is possible to say4 ,the eagle was found to be delicious1 and at dessert they all drank his health4 --,has he then been useless8 asked one4 --,do not say that1 ,cocles6--his flesh has nourished us4--,when ,i questioned him he answered nothing1 but ,i eat him without bearing him a grudge3 if he had made me suffer less1 he would have been less fat2 less fat1 he would have been less delectable4 --,of his past beauty1 what is there left4 --,i have kept all his feathers4 99 99 99 99 99 ,it is with one of them that ,i write this little book4 ,may you1 rare friend1 not find it too foolish4 ,,epilogue ,,to ,,endeavour ,,to ,,make ,,the ,,reader ,,believe ,,that ,,if ,,this ,,book ,,is ,,such ,,as ,,it ,,is1 ,,it ,,is ,,not ,,the ,,fault ,,of ,,the ,,author ,one does not write the books one wants to4 ,journal des ,goncourt4 ,the history of ,leda made such a great stir and covered ,tyndarus with so much glory that ,minos was not much disturbed to hear ,pasipha say to him3 8,it can't be helped4 ,i do not like men40 ,but later3 8,it is very provoking 7and it has not been easy67 ,i trusted that a ,god had hidden there4 ,if ,zeus had done his share ,i should have produced a ,dioscurus2 thanks to this animal1 ,i have only given birth to a calf40 ,,printed ,,at ,,the ,,complete ,,press ,,west ,,norwood ,,london ,,transcriber',s ,,note3 ,italicized text is surrounded by underscores3 italics4