that he has over their minds. the way to Paradise: You must not be amazed at what I tell you about this I have heard things about the.king that border on the prince:there is another magician,stronger than he,who miraculous,and I have no doubt that you will hesitate to believe controls his mind as completely as he controls other people's. them. This magician is called the Pope.He will make the king believe They say that while he was at war with his neighbours, that three are only one,or else that the bread one eats is not who were all in league against him,he had an innumerable bread,or that the wine one drinks not wine,and a thousand number of invisible enemies in his kingdom,surrounding him. other things of the same kind. They also say that he has searched for them for more than thirty And in order to keep him in training,so that he will not get years,and that,despite the indefatigable efforts of certain out of the habit of believing,he gives him certain articles of dervishes who are in his confidence,he has been unable to find a belief as an exercise from time to time.Two years ago he sent single one.They live with him;they are at his court,in his him a long document called the Constitution,and tried to make capital city,among his troops,in his lawcourts.Yet they say he this king and his subjects believe everything in it,on pain of will have the vexation of dying without being able to find them. severe penalties.He succeeded with the king,who submitted at It is as if they existed in general,and were nothing in once,setting an example to his subjects.But some of them particular:they are a class without any members.No doubt rebelled,and said that they refused to believe anything in the Heaven wants to punish this prince for not being sufficiently document.The instigators of this revolt,which has split the restrained towards his conquered enemies,since it gives him court,the whole kingdom,and every family,are women.The enemies who are invisible,and who are superior to him in their constitution forbids them to read a book which all the Christians methods and in what they achieve. say was brought down to them from Heaven:it is really their I shall continue to write to you,and what I tell you will be Koran.The women,indignant at this insult to their sex,have far removed from the Persian character and way of doing things. started a whole movement against the Constitution.They have The same earth carries us both;but the men in the country put the men,who in this case do not want to be privileged,on where I am living,and those in the country where you are,are their side.You have to admit,all the same,that this Mufti men of very different sorts. argues perfectly reasonably;it must be,by the great prophet From Paris,the 4th of the Ali!That he is acquainted with the principles of our Holy Law. Second Moon of Rabia,1712. For,since women are created inferior to us,and our prophets say that they will not go to Paradise,why is it necessary for 2.Voltaire (pseudonym of Jean Francois Arouet,1694-1778) them to bother to read a book which is intended only to show Voltaire,the French poet,dramatist,historian,and 238 239 一/一图