The Works of Voltaire/Volume 36/The Education of a Prince
The Education of a Prince.
Since the bright God of Day, in the course of his race,
In Aquarius resides with a sorrowful face,
Since tempests so loudly on our high mountains blow,
And our meadows are all covered over with snow,
By the fire I'll a new story tell in new style,
Amusements the time that hangs heavy beguile.
I am old, I must own it, and will therefore descend
To the pleasures of children, since near my life's end.
A prince erst reigned at Beneventum, 'tis said,
Quite mad with his power, and in luxury bred,
To knowledge a stranger, and not ill-educated,
By his neighbors despised, by his own subjects hated.
This small state to govern two arch-knaves combined,
They exerted themselves their young master to blind ;
In this project they were by his confessor aided,
They by turns succeeded, he by all was persuaded
That his talents, his virtues, and his great reputation,
Could insure perfect bliss to the mightiest nation;
That when once their duke had to manhood attained,
He was dreaded and loved, and in all men's hearts reigned:
That his arms could both France and Italia confound;
That with wealth his exchequer would ever abound;
That Solomon ne'er had so much wealth of old,
Though the torrent of Kedron o'er golden sands rolled.
Alamon—for by that name this prince we must call—
Still was dupe to gross flatteries, for he swallowed them all,
With pastimes delighted, court buffoons he caressed,
And when he had dined thought his people were blessed.
One valiant old general at court still remained,
Ernon, greatly esteemed when the duke's father reigned,
Who not being bribed spoke his mind uncontrolled,
And undaunted, the government's ruin foretold.
To jealousy roused, those who bore supreme sway
Soon found means to remove Ernon out of the way;
Unknown to the prince he to exile was sent,
But there at a farm the old man lived content;
There with friends he lived happy, resigned to his fate,
And he wept for his master as well as the state;
Whilst with sloth and with pleasure the young duke content,
On the down of soft ease both his days and nights spent.
The murmurs by which oft his subjects expressed
Discontent, would however sometimes break his rest,
But that distant din, which he hardly could hear,
Grows weak in its course, and scarce beats on his ear;
Whilst with woe overloaded men groaned through the realm,
Alamon led a languishing life at the helm.
Then was tyranny's triumph, but the heavens took his part,
And to work reformation with love touched his heart.
Young Amida he saw, he both saw her and heard,
His heart felt emotion, and to live he appeared;
He was handsome, and might with assurance address her,
But the mystery soon was smoked by his confessor;
In his penitent's breast straight he scruples excited,
Superstition and ignorance are easily frighted:
And the two wicked rulers who feared lest the lover
Might one day their sinister proceedings discover,
Were for making Amida like Ernon depart:
Her all to pack up she prepared with sad heart.
The weak Alamon all this insolence bore,
His reluctance was vain, from his charmer he tore.
He doubted and wavered, for just in that season
His soul was but faintly illumined by reason.
When Amida was going there were heard loud alarms,
The cry was, "All's lost, let us die and to arms,"
On Allah, St. Germain, Christ, and Mahomet loud,
They called, and on every side fled a crowd:
A warrior turbaned, who led on a band
Of Mussulmans holding their falchions in hand,
Over heaps of the dead, or expiring, who lay
All reeking in gore, with his sword cut a way,
With sword and with fire to the palace he flew,
The women he seized on, their husbands he slew.
From Cuma this general marched to Beneventum,
But the rulers ne'er dreamed he would thus circumvent them;
Desolation and ruin up to Rome's walls he spread,
And St. Paul and St. Peter were both seized with dread.
My dear readers, this chief was Abdallah the Proud,
Who, by God, to chastise his own church was allowed.
When the palace he entered, in chains all were cast,
Prince, monks, lackeys, ministers, and chiefs were made fast,
As calves tied in couples upon sledges are laid,
And to the next market sad victims conveyed.
Thus appeared the young duke and each worthy assessor,
All laid by the heels with the father confessor,
Who crossed himself often, and with fervency prayed,
And preached resolution, though sorely dismayed.
The victors then shared when the vanquished were tied,
The booty the emirs in three parts divide;
Of men, and of horses, and saints they dispose,
And first from their captives they strip off their clothes.
In all ages have tailors disguised human nature,
So that man to man always was a most unknown creature.
Dress changes men's figures and their characters too,
To judge of man rightly we should naked him view.
The Mussulman chief had the duke, at that time,
As already was said, he was in his youth's prime;
Since he seemed to be strong, muleteer he was made,
And soon he was highly improved by that trade.
His nerves, which by sloth and by ease weak were grown,
Inured to hard labor, acquired a new tone;
His sloth, by adversity taught, he subdued,
And valor in him sprung from mean servitude.
Valor, when without power, makes the state of man worse,
His impotence then is the heavier curse.
Abdallah to pleasure began to resign
His soul, and in spite of his prophet drank wine.
The court and townladies, all prone to adore him,
Were by the black eunuch each night brought before him;
By beauties attended he prepares for repose,
And she's happy to whom he the handkerchief throws.
Whilst the chief led a life of unceasing delight,
Whilst joy winged each hour, and love triumphed at night,
In the stable much hardship and woe the prince bore,
Those his comrades were now who were subjects before.
His mules all his care and attention required,
He combed them each day till his hands were quite tired.
His woe to complete, and to make him quite rave,
He beheld fair Amida led by the black slave
To share, in her turn, the fell conqueror's bed:
Fired with rage at the sight, to the eunuch he said,
"To make me quite wretched, there but wanted this stroke."
Wonder seized on the slave at the words which he spoke;
In a language quite different, fair Amida replied,
With affection and sorrow her young lover she eyed;
Her eloquent looks her full meaning express,
They meant, "Bear your woes, live my wrongs to redress;
Your present mean station I do not despise,"
Your sufferings give you new worth in my eyes.
Alamon took the meaning which her looks thus expressed,
And heart-cheering hope was revived in his breast.
Amida with beauty transcendently bright,
So dazzled the chief of the Mussulmans' sight,
That, transported with passion, by Allah he swore,
He enjoyment had known, but ne'er knew love before.
The fair one resisted to increase his desires,
Resistance served only to fan the chief's fires.
A woman's head still with invention is fraught,
Said she, "Sir, your conquest I well may be thought;
You're unconquered in love as in warlike alarms,
All fall at your feet, or rush into your arms;
But the honor you mean me defer for three days,
And grant, to console me for such sad delays,
Two things, which as proofs of your love, I require:"
"I'll grant," said the pirate, "whate'er you desire."
"Then make three Beneventers," said she, "undergo
A couple of hundred sound lashes, or so;
This discipline for their transgressions is due;
This, Sir's, the first favor I hope for from you.
The second, Sir, is, that you two mules would spare me,
Which may on a litter from time to time bear me;
And to drive them a muleteer of my own choosing;"
"Your requests," said Abdallah, "there is no refusing."
'Twas done soon as said, and the hypocrite vile
With both courtiers who joined their lord's youth to beguile,
Received each their full quota, which pleased all of the nation,
Who had often complained of maladministration,
And the duke was the happiest mortal alive,
Since permitted his mistress in litter to drive.
"All's not over," said Amida, "you must conquer and reign,
Now's the time, or to die, or your crown to regain;
You're not wanting in courage, Ernon's faithful, and I
Am resolved to serve you and my country, or die.
Then make no delay, but to Ernon repair,
To ask pardon for all he has suffered take care;
To serve you what remains of his life he'll expose,
Return in three days, and then fall on your foes ;
There's no time to be lost, for Abdallah is bent
To accomplish in three days his lustful intent.
In love and in war, time is precious, you know."
Alamon with alacrity answered, "I go."
Ernon, whom Amida had informed of all,
Loved his prince, though ungrateful, and lamented his fall;
His generous, brave friends all stood ready at hand,
And of soldiers he headed a most resolute band.
Ernon tenderly wept when his prince he had found,
They armed in secret, marched in silence profound.
Amida addressed them, and her words could impart
The love of true glory to each abject slave's heart,
Alamon could both conduct and courage unite,
And a hero became when he first went to fight.
The Turk plunged in luxury, who nothing mistrusted,
Surprised by the vanquished, in his turn was worsted.
Alamon to the palace had in triumph advanced
At the time when the Turk by soft pleasure entranced,
Not having yet heard the dire turn of his fate,
Was with hopes of enjoying fair Amida elate.
His right he asserted, and took the Turk's place;
Then straight there appeared with a confident face,
The priest in whose air there appeared much resignment,
And the two knavish courtiers just broke from confinement;
Boasting that they did all, though their boasts were quite vain,
The influence they once had they hoped to maintain.
To prove cruel and spiteful cowards but seldom have failed,
The monk was for having Abdallah empaled.
The prince then replied with a resolute tone,
"Vile wretch, such a punishment should be your own;
By a shameful repose you to ruin had brought me,
This Turk and my mistress true courage have taught me;
By your precepts misguided, false zeal I adored,
But misfortunes and love have my virtues restored.
At peace, brave Abdallah, and in freedom depart,
'Tis you have reformed both my mind and my heart:
Then in freedom depart, no more trouble this state,
And if ever it should be so ordered by fate,
That o'er your dominions three knaves should bear sway,
Send directly for me, I'll your favor repay."