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upside down； he read backwards /Eva/。 Who is /Eva/； if not all women
in one？ Therefore by the Voice Divine was it said to the author：
Think of women； woman will heal thy wound； stop the waste…hole in thy
bag of tricks。 Woman is thy wealth； have but one woman； dress；
undress； and fondle that women； make use of the womanwoman is
everythingwoman has an inkstand of her own； dip thy pen in that
bottomless inkpot。 Women like love； make love to her with the pen
only； tickle her phantasies； and sketch merrily for her a thousand
pictures of love in a thousand pretty ways。 Woman is generous； and all
for one； or one for all； must pay the painter； and furnish the hairs
of the brush。 Now； muse upon that which is written here。 /Ave/； Hail；
/Eva/； woman； or /Eva/； woman； /Ave/； Hail。 Yes； she makes and
unmakes。 Heigh； then； for the inkstand！ What does woman like best？
What does she desire？ All the special things of love； and woman is
right。 To have children； to produce an imitation； of nature； which is
always in labour。 Come to me； then； woman！come to me； Eva！
With this the author began to dip into that fertile inkpot； where
there was a brain…fluid； concocted by virtues from on high in a
talismanic fashion。 From one cup there came serious things； which
wrote themselves in brown ink； and from the other trifling things；
which merely gave a roseate hue to the pages of the manuscript。 The
poor author has often； from carelessness； mixed the inks； now here；
now there； but as soon as the heavy sentences； difficult to smooth；
polish； and brighten up； of some work suitable to the taste of the day
are finished； the author； eager to amuse himself； in spite of the
small amount of merry ink remaining in the left cup； steals and bears
eagerly therefrom a few penfuls with great delight。 These said penfuls
are； indeed； these same Droll Tales； the authority on which is above
suspicion； because it flows from a divine source； as is shown in this
the author's naive confession。
Certain evil…disposed people will still cry out at this； but can you
find a man perfectly contented on this lump of mud？ Is it not a shame？
In this the author has wisely comported himself in imitation of a
higher power； and he proves it by /atqui/。 Listen。 Is it not most
clearly demonstrated to the learned that the sovereign Lord of worlds
has made an infinite number of heavy； weighty； and serious machines
with great wheels； large chains； terrible notches； and frightfully
complicated screws and weights like the roasting jack； but also has
amused Himself with little trifles and grotesque things light as
zephyrs； and has made also naive and pleasant creations； at which you
laugh directly you see them？ Is it not so？ Then in all eccentric
works； such as the very spacious edifice undertaken by the author； in
order to model himself upon the laws of the above…named Lord； it is
necessary to fashion certain delicate flowers； pleasant insects； fine
dragons well twisted； imbricated； and colourednay； even gilt；
although he is often short of goldand throw them at the feet of his
snow…clad mountains； piles of rocks； and other cloud…capped
philosophers； long and terrible works； marble columns； real thoughts
carved in porphyry。
Ah！ unclean beasts； who despise and repudiate the figures； phantasies；
harmonies； and roulades of the fair muse of drollery； will you not
pare your claws； so that you may never again scratch her white skin；
all azure with veins； her amorous reins； her flanks of surpassing
elegance； her feet that stay modestly in bed； her satin face； her
lustrous features； her heart devoid of bitterness？ Ah！ wooden…heads；
what will you say when you find that this merry lass springs from the
heart of France； agrees with all that is womanly in nature； has been
saluted with a polite /Ave/！ by the angels in the person of their
spokesman； Mercury； and finally； is the clearest quintessence of Art。
In this work are to be met with necessity； virtue； whim； the desire of
a woman； the votive offering of a stout Pantagruelist； all are here。
Hold your peace； then； drink to the author； and let his inkstand with
the double cup endow the Gay Science with a hundred glorious Droll
Tales。
Stand back then； curs； strike up the music！ Silence； bigots； out of
the way； dunces！ step forward my merry wags！my little pages！ give
your soft hand to the ladies； and tickle theirs in the centre in a
pretty manner； saying to them； 〃Read to laugh。〃 Afterwards you can
tell them some mere jest to make them roar； since when they are
laughing their lips are apart； and they make but a faint resistance to
love。
PERSEVERANCE IN LOVE
During the first years of the thirteenth century after the coming of
our Divine Saviour there happened in the City of Paris an amorous
adventure； through the deed of a man of Tours； of which the town and
even the king's court was never tired of speaking。 As to the clergy；
you will see by that which is related the part they played in this
history； the testimony of which was by them preserved。 This said man；
called the Touranian by the common people； because he had been born in
our merry Touraine； had for his true name that of Anseau。 In his
latter days the good man returned into his own country and was mayor
of St。 Martin； according to the chronicles of the abbey of that town；
but at Paris he was a great silversmith。
But now in his prime； by his great honesty； his labours； and so forth；
he became a citizen of Paris and subject of the king； whose protection
he bought； according to the custom of the period。 He had a house built
for him free of all quit…rent； close the Church of St。 Leu； in the Rue
St。 Denis； where his forge was well…known by those in want of fine
jewels。 Although he was a Touranian； and had plenty of spirit and
animation； he kept himself virtuous as a true saint； in spite of the
blandishments of the city； and had passed the days of his green season
without once dragging his good name through the mire。 Many will say
this passes the bounds of that faculty of belief which God has placed
in us to aid that faith due to the mysteries of our holy religion； so
it is needful to demonstrate abundantly the secret cause of this
silversmith's chastity。 And； first remember that he came into the town
on foot； poor as Job； according to the old saying； and unlike all the
inhabitants of our part of the country； who have but one passion； he
had a character of iron； and persevered in the path he had chosen as
steadily as a monk in vengeance。 As a workman； he laboured from morn
to night； become a master； he laboured still； always learning new
secrets； seeking new receipts； and in seeking； meeting with inventions
of all kinds。 Late idlers； watchmen； and vagrants saw always a modest
lamp shining through the silversmith's window； and the good man
tapping； sculpting； rounding； distilling； modeling； and finishing；
with his apprentices； his door closed and his ears open。 Povert