Voltaire
The Sincere Huron, Pupil of Nature
Religious Satire
Published by
Books
- Advanced Digital Solutions & High-Quality eBook Formatting -
2017 OK Publishing
ISBN 978-80-7583-589-5
Table of Contents
VOLTAIRE: HIS LIFE AND WORKS (Biography)
THE HURON: Pupil of Nature1
I. The Huron Arrives In France.
II. The Huron, Called The Ingenu, Acknowledged By His Relations.
VI. The Huron Flies To His Mistress, And Becomes Quite Furious.
VII. The Huron Repulses The English.
VIII. The Huron Goes To Court. Sups Upon The Road With Some Huguenots.
IX. The Arrival Of The Huron At Versailles. His Reception At Court.
X. The Huron Is Shut Up In The Bastile With A Jansenist.
XI. How The Huron Discloses His Genius.
XII. The Huron's Sentiments Upon Theatrical Pieces.
XIII. The Beautiful Miss St. Yves Goes To Versailles.
XIV. Rapid Progress Of The Huron's Intellect.
XV. The Beautiful Miss St. Yves Visits M. De St. Pouange.
XVI. Miss St. Yves Consults A Jesuit.
XVIII. Miss St. Yves Delivers Her Lover And A Jansenist.
XIX. The Huron, The Beautiful Miss St. Yves, And Their Relations, Are Convened.
XX. The Death Of The Beautiful Miss St. Yves, And Its Consequences.
The Priory entrance.
I.
The Huron Arrives In France.
One day, Saint Dunstan, an Irishman by nation, and a saint by trade, left Ireland on a small mountain, which took its route toward the coast of France, and set his saintship down in the bay of St. Malo. When he had dismounted, he gave his blessing to the mountain, which, after some profound bows, took its leave, and returned to its former place.
Here St. Dunstan laid the foundation of a small priory, and gave it the name of the Priory Mountain, which it still keeps, as every body knows.
In the year 1689, the fifteenth day of July, in the evening, the abbot Kerkabon, prior of our Lady of the Mountain, happened to take the air along the shore with Miss Kerkabon, his sister. The prior, who was becoming aged, was a very good clergyman, beloved by his neighbors. What added most to the respect that was paid him, was, that among all his clerical neighbors, he was the only one that could walk to his bed after supper. He was tolerably read in theology; and when he was tired of reading St. Augustin, he refreshed himself with Rabelais. All the world spoke well of him.
Miss Kerkabon, who had never been married, notwithstanding her hearty wishes so to be, had preserved a freshness of complexion in her forty-fifth year. Her character was that of a good and sensible woman. She was fond of pleasure, and was a devotee.
As they were walking, the prior, looking on the sea, said to his sister:
"It was here, alas! that our poor brother embarked with our dear sister-in-law, Madam Kerkabon, his wife, on board the frigate 'Swallow,' in 1669, to serve the king in Canada. Had he not been killed, probably he would have written to us."
"Do you believe," says Miss Kerkabon, "that our sister-in-law has been eaten by the Cherokees, as we have been told?"
"Certain it is, had she not been killed, she would have come back. I shall weep for her all my lifetime. She was a charming woman; and our brother, who had a great deal of wit, would no doubt have made a fortune."
Thus were they going on with mutual tenderness, when they beheld a small vessel enter the bay of Rence with the tide. It was from England, and came to sell provisions. The crew leaped on shore without looking at the prior or Miss, his sister, who were shocked at the little attention shown them.
That was not the behavior of a well-made youth, who, darting himself over the heads of his companions, stood on a sudden before Miss Kerkabon. Being unaccustomed to bowing, he made her a sign with his head. His figure and his dress attracted the notice of brother and sister. His head was uncovered, and his legs bare. Instead of shoes, he wore a kind of sandals. From his head his long hair flowed in tresses, A small close doublet displayed the beauty of his shape. He had a sweet and martial air.2