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all the greater because； on this occasion； the passing disposition is
in harmony with hereditary instinct； and because the taste of the
epoch is fortified by the national taste。 Add to all this the
exquisite art of the cooks； their talent in commingling； in
apportioning and in concealing the condiments； in varying and
arranging the dishes； the certainty of their hand； the finesse of
their palate； their experience in processes； in the traditions and
practices which； already for a hundred years； form of French prose the
most delicate nourishment of the intellect。 It is not strange to find
them skilled in regulating human speech； in extracting from it its
quintessence and in distilling its full delight。
IV。 THE MASTERS。
The art and processes of the masters。 … Montesquieu。 … Voltaire。
… Diderot。 … Rousseau。 … 〃The Marriage of Figaro。〃
In this respect four among them are superior； Montesquieu；
Voltaire； Diderot and Rousseau。 It seems sufficient to mention their
names。 Modern Europe has no greater writers。 And yet their talent
must be closely examined to properly comprehend their power。… In tone
and style Montesquieu is the first。 No writer is more master of
himself； more outwardly calm； more sure of his meaning。 His voice is
never boisterous； he expresses the most powerful thoughts with
moderation。 There is no gesticulation； exclamations； the abandonment
of impulse； all that is irreconcilable with decorum is repugnant to
his tact； his reserve； his dignity。 He seems to be always addressing
a select circle of people with acute minds； and in such a way as to
render them at every moment conscious of their acuteness。 No flattery
could be more delicate； we feel grateful to him for making us
satisfied with our intelligence。 We must possess some intelligence to
be able to read him； for he deliberately curtails developments and
omits transitions； we are required to supply these and to comprehend
his hidden meanings。 He is rigorously systematic but the system is
concealed； his concise completed sentences succeeding each other
separately； like so many precious coffers or caskets； now simple and
plain in aspect； now superbly chased and decorated； but always full。
Open them and each contains a treasure； here is placed in narrow
compass a rich store of reflections； of emotions； of discoveries； our
enjoyment being the more intense because we can easily retain all this
for a moment in the palm of our hand。 〃That which usually forms a
grand conception；〃 he himself says； 〃is a thought so expressed as to
reveal a number of other thoughts； and suddenly disclosing what we
could not anticipate without patient study。〃 This； indeed； is his
manner； he thinks with summaries； he concentrates the essence of
despotism in a chapter of three lines。 The summary itself often bears
the air of an enigma； of which the charm is twofold； we have the
pleasure of comprehension accompanying the satisfaction of divining。
In all subjects he maintains this supreme discretion； this art of
indicating without enforcing； these reticences； the smile that never
becomes a laugh。
〃In my defense of the 'Esprit des Lois；〃' he says； 〃that which
gratifies me is not to see venerable theologians crushed to the ground
but to see them glide down gently。〃
He excels in tranquil irony； in polished disdain；＇16＇ in disguised
sarcasm。 His Persians judge France as Persians； and we smile at their
errors； unfortunately the laugh is not against them but against
ourselves； for their error is found to be a verity＇17＇。 This or that
letter； in a sober vein； seems a comedy at their expense without
reflecting upon us； full of Muslim prejudices and of oriental
conceit；＇18＇ reflect a moment； and our conceit； in this relation；
appears no less。 Blows of extraordinary force and reach are given in
passing； as if thoughtlessly； against existing institutions； against
the transformed Catholicism which 〃in the present state of Europe；
cannot last five hundred years；〃 against the degenerate monarchy which
causes useful citizens to starve to fatten parasite courtiers＇19＇。
The entire new philosophy blooms out in his hands with an air of
innocence； in a pastoral romance； in a simple prayer； in an artless
letter＇20＇。 None of the gifts which serve to arrest and fix the
attention are wanting in this style； neither grandeur of imagination
nor profound sentiment； vivid characterization； delicate gradations；
vigorous precision； a sportive grace； unlooked…for burlesque； nor
variety of representation。 But； amidst so many ingenious tricks；
apologues； tales； portraits and dialogues； in earnest as well as when
masquerading； his deportment throughout is irreproachable and his tone
is perfect。 If； as an author； he develops a paradox it is with almost
English gravity。 If he fully exposes indecency it is with decent
terms。 In the full tide of buffoonery； as well as in the full blast
of license； he is ever the well…bred man； born and brought up in the
aristocratic circle in which full liberty is allowed but where good…
breeding is supreme； where every idea is permitted but where words are
weighed； where one has the privilege of saying what he pleases； but on
condition that he never forgets himself。
A circle of this kind is a small one； comprising only a select few；
to be understood by the multitude requires another tone of voice。
Philosophy demands a writer whose principal occupation is a diffusion
of it； who is unable to keep it to himself； who pours it out like a
gushing fountain； who offers it to everybody； daily and in every form；
in broad streams and in small drops； without exhaustion or weariness；
through every crevice and by every channel； in prose； in verse； in
imposing and in trifling poems； in the drama； in history； in novels；
in pamphlets； in pleadings； in treatises； in essays； in dictionaries；
in correspondence； openly and in secret； in order that it may
penetrate to all depths and in every soil； such was Voltaire。 …
〃I have accomplished more in my day；〃 he says somewhere； 〃than either
Luther or Calvin；〃 in which he is mistaken。 The truth is； however； he
has something of their spirit。 Like them he is desirous of changing
the prevailing religion； he takes the attitude of the founder of a
sect； he recruits and binds together proselytes； he writes letters of
exhortation； of direction and of predication； he puts watchwords in
circulation； he furnishes 〃the brethren〃 with a device； his passion
resembles the zeal of an apostle or of a prophet。 Such a spirit is
incapable of reserve； it is militant and fiery by nature； it
apostrophizes； reviles and improvises； it writes under the dictation
of impressions； it allows itself every species of utterance and； if
need be； the coarsest。 It thinks by explosions； its emotions are
sudden starts； and its images so many sparks； it lets the rein go
entirely； it gives itself up to the reader and hence it takes
possession of