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• The Works of Voltaire
• The Dramatic Works of Voltaire Vol. X— Part I
• ZaÏre
• Dramatis PersonÆ.
• An Epistle Dedicatory to Mr. Falkener, an English Merchant, Since Ambassador At Constantinople, With the Tragedy of Zaïre.
• A Second Letter to Mr. Falkener, Then Ambassador to Constantinople.
• Act I.
• Act II.
• Act III.
• Act IV.
• Act V.
• CÆsar.
• Dramatis PersonÆ.
• Act I.
• Act II.
• Act III.
• The Prodigal
• Dramatis PersonÆ.
• Act I.
• Act II.
• Act III.
• Act IV.
• Act V.
• Preface to Mariamne.
• Preface to Orestes.
• Preface to Catiline.
• Preface to MÉrope.
• Preface to the Prodigal.
• Preface to Nanine.
• 1 Preface to Socrates.
• Note On Mahomet.
• Preface to Julius CÆsar.
• Voltaire the Lisbon Earthquake and Other Poems Vol. X— Part Ii
• Author’s Preface to the Lisbon Earthquake.
• The Lisbon Earthquake. *
• Preface to the Poem On the Law of Nature.
• The Law of Nature.
• The Temple of Taste. *
• The Temple of Friendship.
• Thoughts On the Newtonian Philosophy, Addressed to the Marchioness Du ChÂtelet.
• On the Death of Adrienne Lecouvreur, a Celebrated Actress.
• To the King of Prussia On His Accession to the Throne.
• From Love to Friendship.
• The Worldling. *
• On Calumny.
• The King of Prussia to M. Voltaire.
• The Answer.
• On the English Genius.
• What Pleases the Ladies.
• The Education of a Prince.
• The Education of a Daughter.
• The Three Manners.
• Thelema and Macareus.
• Azolan.
• The Origin of Trades.
• The Battle of Fontenoy.
• The Man of the World. *
• The Padlock. *
• In Camp Before Philippsburg, July 3, 1734.
• Answer to a Lady, Or a Person Who Wrote to Voltaire As Such. *
• Envy.
• The Nature of Virtue.
• To the King of Prussia.
• To M. De Fontenelle.
• To Count Algarotti At the Court of Saxony.
• To Cardinal Quirini.
• To Her Royal Highness, the Princess of ***.
• To M. De Cideville.
• To ****.
• Epistle XIII. *
• To the Duke of Richelieu, Marshal of France, In Whose Honor the Senate of Genoa Had Just Before Caused a Statue to Be Erected. *
• To Madam De ***, On the Manner of Living At Paris and Versailles.
• To the Prince of Vendôme.
• To Madam De Gondoin, Afterward Countess of Toulouse, On the Danger She Had Been Exposed to In Passing the Loire In 1719.
• To the Duke Delafeuillade.
• To Marshal Villars. *
• To Monsieur Genonville.
• To the Countess of Fontaine-martel. *
• Written From PlombiÉres to M. Pallu, Intendant of Lyons.
• The Nature of Pleasure.
• The Utility of Sciences to Princes. to the Prince Royal of Prussia, Since King of Prussia.
• Epistle In Answer to a Letter, With Which, Upon His Accession to the Throne, the King of Prussia Honored the Author.
• Epistle to the King, Presented to His Majesty At the Camp Before Freiburg.
• On the Death of the Emperor Charles.
• To the Queen of Hungary.
• Inscribed to the Gentlemen of the Academy of Sciences, Who Sailed to the Polar Circle and the Equator, In Order to Ascertain the Figure of the Earth.
• To M. De Gervasi, the Physician. *
• The Requisites to Happiness.
• To a Lady, Very Well Known to the Whole Town.
• Fanaticism. *
• On Peace Concluded In 1736.
• To AbbÉ Chaulieu. *
• Answer to the Foregoing.
• To President HÉnault, Author of an Excellent Work Upon the History of France.
• Canto of an Epic Poem. *
• Epistle On the Newtonian Philosophy. * to the Marchioness of ChÂtelet.

ACT III.

SCENE I.

euphemon,the Son,jasmin.

jasmin.

I have served you, sir, now two years, without knowing who or what you are: you were then my master; permit me now to call you my friend: you are now, like myself, thrown upon the wide world, and poverty has put us on a level: you are no longer the man of pleasure, the gallant and gay Euphemon, treated and caressed by the men, surrounded and courted by the women. Every stiver you had is gone to the devil; and you have nothing now to do but to forget you were ever worth a shilling; for surely the most insupportable of all evils is the remembrance of happiness which we no longer enjoy: for my part, I was always plain Jasmin, and therefore the less to be pitied: born as I was to suffer, I suffer contentedly; to be in want of everything is only natural to me; your old hat there, for instance, and coarse ragged waistcoat, was my usual garb; and you have great reason to be sorry that you had not always been as poor as myself.

euphemon.

How shame and ignominy attend upon misfortune! how melancholy a consideration is it to reflect, that a servant shall have it in his power to humble me! and what’s worse, I feel that he’s in the right, too; he endeavors to comfort me, after his manner; he keeps me company; and his heart, rough and unpolished as it is, is sensible, tender, and humane: born my equal—for as a fellow-creature so he was—he tried to support me under my affliction, and follows my unhappy fortune, while every friend I had, abandons me.

jasmin.

Friends, did you say, sir? Pray, my good master, who are they? how are those people made whom they call friends?

euphemon.

You have seen them, Jasmin, coming into my house whenever they pleased, troubling me forever with their importunate visits; a crowd of parasites, who lived upon my bounty, complimented my fine taste, my elegance, my delicacy; borrowed my money, then praised me before my face, and stunned me with their ridiculous flattery.

jasmin.

Ay, poor devil! you did not hear them laughing at you as they went away, and making a joke of your foolish generosity.

euphemon.

I believe it; for in the beginning of my misfortunes, when I was arrested at Bordeaux, not one of those, on whom I had lavished my all, ever came near me, or offered me his purse; and when I got out sick and friendless, I applied to one of them, in this poor ragged condition, and almost famished, for a little charitable assistance to lengthen out my wretched life, he turned away his unrelenting eye, pretended even to know nothing of me, and turned me out like a common beggar.

jasmin.

Not one to comfort or support you?

euphemon.

Not one.

jasmin.

Such wretches! friends indeed!

euphemon.

Men are made of iron.

jasmin.

And women, too.

euphemon.

Alas! from them I expected more tenderness; but met with even a thousand times greater inhumanity: one of them in particular I well remember, who openly avowed her passion for me, and seemed to take a pride in obliging me; and yet in the very lodgings, which she had furnished at my expense, and with the money I had squandered upon her, did she procure every day new gallants, and treat them with my wine, while I was perishing with hunger in the street: in short, Jasmin, if it had not been for the old man, who picked me up by chance at Bordeaux, and who, he said, knew me when I was a child, death had by this time put an end to my misfortunes: but knowest thou, Jasmin, whereabout we are?

jasmin.

Near Cognac, if I am not mistaken; where, they tell me, my old master Rondon lives.

euphemon.

Rondon! the father of—whom did you say?

jasmin.

Rondon, a blunt, odd fellow; I had the honor of belonging to his kitchen once; but being always of a roving disposition, chose to travel; and after that was an errand boy, a lackey, a clerk, a foot-soldier, and a deserter; at length in Bordeaux you took me into your service. Rondon perhaps may recollect me: who knows but in our adversity—

euphemon.

How long is it since you left him?

jasmin.

About fifteen years. He was a character; half pleasant, and half surly; but at the bottom a good honest fellow: he had a child, I remember, an only daughter, a perfect jewel; blue eyes, short nose, fresh complexion, vermilion lips; and then for sense and understanding, quite a miracle. When I lived there, she was, let me see, about six or seven years old, by my troth a sweet flower, and by this time fit to be gathered.

euphemon.

O misery!

jasmin.

But why should I talk to you about her? It can be of no service to you; I see you are concerned, and the tears trickle down your cheeks: my poor master!

euphemon.

What unhappy fate could guide me to this place! O me!

jasmin.

You seem in deep contemplation, and as if the sight of this place made you unhappy; you weep, too.

euphemon.

I have reason.

jasmin.

Do you know Rondon? Are you any way related to the family?

euphemon.

O let me alone, let me alone.

jasmin.

[Embracing him.

For pity’s sake, my dear master, my friend, tell me who you are.

euphemon.

[In tears.

I am—I am a poor unhappy wretch, a fool, a madman, a guilty abandoned criminal, whom heaven should punish, and earth detest: would I were dead!

jasmin.

No: we must live. What, die with famine while we can help ourselves! we have our hands at least, let us make use of them, and leave off complaining: look on those fellows yonder, who have no fortune but their industry, with their spades in their hands, turning up the garden; let us join them: come, work, man, and get your livelihood.

euphemon.

Alas! those poor beings, mean as they are, and approaching nearer to animal than human nature, even they taste more pleasure and satisfaction in their labors, than my false delicacy and idle follies could ever afford me; they live, at least, free from trouble, and remorse, and enjoy health of body and peace of mind.

SCENE II.

mme. de croupillac, young euphemon, jasmin.

mme. de croupillac.

What do I see? or do my eyes deceive me? the more I look on him, the more I think it must be he. [She looks steadfastly at Euphemon.] And yet surely it cannot be the same; it can never be that gallant squire of Angoulême, that played so high, and seemed to be lined with gold: it is he: [She comes forward] but the other was rich and happy, handsome, and well-made; this fellow looks poor and ugly. Sickness will spoil the finest face, and poverty makes a still more dreadful alteration.

jasmin.

What female apparition is this that haunts us with her malignant aspect?

euphemon.

If I am not mistaken, I know her well enough; she has seen me in all my pomp and splendor: how dreadful it is to appear mean and destitute in the eyes of those who have seen us in affluence and prosperity! let us be gone.

mme. de croupillac.

[Coming up to Euphemon.

What strange accident, my dear child, hath reduced thee to this pitiful plight?

euphemon.

My own folly.

mme. de croupillac.

Why, what a figure dost thou make!

euphemon.

Ay, madam, the consequence of having good friends; of being robbed, and plundered.

mme. de croupillac.

Plundered? by whom? how? when? where?

jasmin.

O from mere goodness of heart: our thieves were mighty honest creatures, persons that figured in the beau-monde, amiable triflers, gamesters, bottle-companions, agreeable story-tellers, men of wit, and women of beauty.

mme. de croupillac.

I understand you: you have squandered away all you had in eating and drinking: but you will think this nothing when you come to know the distresses I have undergone, and the losses I have suffered with regard to—matrimony.

euphemon.

Your humble servant, madam.

mme. de croupillac.

[Stopping him.

Your servant indeed; no, no, positively you shall stay, and hear my misfortunes; you shall be sorry for me.

euphemon.

Well, well, I am sorry for you; good by to you.

mme. de croupillac.

Nay, now I vow and swear you shall hear the whole story. One Monsieur Fierenfat, a lawyer by profession, got acquainted with me at Angoulême, about [she runs after him] the time when you beat the four bailiffs, and ran away; this Monsieur Fierenfat, you must know, lives not far from hence, with his father, Euphemon.

euphemon.

[Coming back.

Euphemon!

mme. de croupillac.

Yes.

euphemon.

For heaven’s sake, madam, that Euphemon mean you, so celebrated for his virtues, the honor of his race, could he—

mme. de croupillac.

Yes, sir.

euphemon.

And does he live here?

mme. de croupillac.

He does.

euphemon.

And may I ask you, madam, how is he? how does he?

mme. de croupillac.

Very well, I believe, sir: what the deuce ails him?

euphemon.

And pray, madam, what do they say—

mme. de croupillac.

Of whom, sir?

euphemon.

Of an elder son he had formerly.

mme. de croupillac.

O an ill-begotten rogue, a rake, a rattle-pate, an arrant sot, a madman, a fellow given up to every vice; hanged, I suppose, by this time.

euphemon.

Indeed, madam—but I am ashamed of interrupting you in this manner.

mme. de croupillac.

To proceed then: this Monsieur Fierenfat, as I was telling you, his younger brother, made strong love to me, and was to have been married to me.

euphemon.

And is he so happy? have you got him?

mme. de croupillac.

No: would you think it, sir, this fool, puffed up with the thoughts of stepping in to all his mad brother’s fortune, growing rich, and wanting to be more so, breaks off this match, which would have been so honorable to him, and now wants to lay hold of the daughter of one Rondon, a vulgar cit, the cock of the village here.

euphemon.

Going to marry her, say you?

mme. de croupillac.

And here am I most dreadfully jealous of her.

euphemon.

That beautiful creature—Jasmin here was just now giving me a picture of her—would she throw herself away—

jasmin.

[Aside to Euphemon.

What are you about, sir? this husband is as good as another for her, I think: but my master’s a strange man, everything afflicts him.

euphemon.

[Aside.

This is beyond all bearing.

[Aloud to Mme. de Croupillac.

My heart, madam, is deeply sensible of the injury you have received; this Lise should never be his, if I could prevent it.

mme. de croupillac.

You take it rightly, sir; you lament my unhappy fate; the poor are always compassionate; you had not half the good nature when you rolled in money; but mind what I have to say, in this life we may always help one another.

jasmin.

Help us then, dear madam, I beseech you.

mme. de croupillac.

You must act for me in this affair.

euphemon.

I, madam! how is it possible for me to serve you?

mme. de croupillac.

O in a thousand ways! you shall take my cause in hand: another dress and a little finery will make you still look tolerably handsome: you have a polite, insinuating, address, and know how to wheedle a young girl: introduce yourself into the family, play the flatterer with Fierenfat, compliment him on his riches, his wit, his dress, everything about him, get into his good graces, and while I enter my protest against the unlawful procedure, you will do all the rest; by this means I shall at least gain time.

euphemon.

[Seeing his father at a distance.

What do I see? O heaven!

[He runs off.

mme. de croupillac.

Hai! hai! the fellow’s mad sure.

jasmin.

He’s afraid of you, ma’am, that’s all.

mme. de croupillac.

A blockhead! here, you, stop, hark ye, hark ye. I must follow him.

SCENE III.

old euphemon, jasmin.

euphemon.

Even the imperfect glance I had of that poor wretch, whoever he is, has, I know not why, filled my heart with anguish and disquietude: he had a noble air, and a turn of features that, somehow or other, affected me: alas! I never see a poor creature of that age, but the sad image of my unhappy son recurs to me; I have still a father’s tenderness for him: but he is dead, or only lives with infamy to disgrace me: both my children make me miserable: one by his vice and debauchery is my eternal punishment, while the other abuses my indulgence, and knows but too well that he is the only support of my old age: life is a burden to me, and I must soon sink beneath it. Who art thou, friend?

[Perceiving Jasmin, who bows to him.

jasmin.

Honored sir, noble and generous Euphemon, don’t you remember poor Jasmin, sir, who lived with Rondon?

euphemon.

Ah, Jasmin, is it you? time alters our faces, as you see by mine: when you lived here I had a good fresh complexion, was hearty and well; but age comes on, my time is almost over: and so, Jasmin, you are come back to your own country at last?

jasmin.

Yes, sir: I grew weary of such a fatiguing life, of rambling about like a wandering Jew, so I even came home. Happiness is a fugitive being, I am sure it has been so to me. The Devil took me out, I believe, led me a long walk, and now has brought me back again.

euphemon.

Well, I may assist you perhaps, if you behave yourself well: but who was that other poor wretch you were talking with, he that ran off just now?

jasmin.

A comrade of mine, a poor wretch, half-starved like myself, without a farthing; he’s in search of employment as well as I.

euphemon.

Perhaps I may find some for you both: is he sober and sensible?

jasmin.

He ought to be so: he has very good parts, I know; can write, and read, understands arithmetic, draws a little, knows music; he was very well brought up.

euphemon.

If so, I have a place ready for him: as for you, Jasmin, my son shall hire you; he is going to be married, to-night perhaps: as his fortune is increased, he’ll want more servants; and one of his is going away, too, and you may step into his place: to-night I’ll present you both; you shall see him at my neighbor Rondon’s; I’ll talk to him there about it; so fare thee well, Jasmin; in the meantime, here’s something for you to drink.

SCENE IV.

jasmin.

[Alone.

The good man! blessings on him! Could I ever have thought in this vile age to meet with so good a heart? his air, his demeanor, his benevolent soul, form together a speaking picture of the integrity of former ages.

SCENE V.

young euphemon, jasmin.

jasmin.

[Embracing him.

Well, I have got a place for you; we are both to serve Euphemon.

euphemon.

Ay! Euphemon!

jasmin.

Yes, if you like it: you seem surprised: why are your eyes turned up in this manner, as if you were going to be exorcised? what is the meaning of those deep sighs, that will not let you speak?

euphemon.

O Jasmin, I can no longer contain myself; tenderness, pain, remorse, all press upon me.

jasmin.

What! has my lady there said anything to you? what has she told you?

euphemon.

She told me nothing.

jasmin.

What’s the matter then?

euphemon.

My heart will no longer suffer me to conceal it from you: in short, that Euphemon—

jasmin.

Well, what of him?

euphemon.

O he is—my father.

jasmin.

Your father? sir?

euphemon.

Yes, Jasmin; I am that elder son, that criminal, that unfortunate, who has ruined his unhappy family. O how my heart fluttered at the sight of him, and offered up its humble prayers! O with what joy could I have fallen down at his feet!

jasmin.

Thou, Euphemon’s son! forgive me, sir, forgive my rude familiarity.

euphemon.

O Jasmin, thinkest thou a heart, oppressed as mine is, can be offended?

jasmin.

You are the son of a man whom all the world admires; a man of a million: to say the truth, the reputation of his son shows to no great advantage when placed near his father’s.

euphemon.

’Tis that which gives me most uneasiness. But tell me, what did my father say?

jasmin.

I told him, sir, we were two unfortunate youths, very poor, but well educated, and would be glad to serve him: he lamented our fate, and consented to take us. This evening he will introduce you to his son, the President, who, it seems, is to marry Lise; that fortunate brother, to whom my old master Rondon is to be father-in-law.

euphemon.

And now, Jasmin, I will unfold my heart to you: hear the history of my misfortunes, and think how wretched I must be, to draw upon myself, by a variety of follies, the just indignation of a beloved parent; to be hated, despised, disinherited; to feel all the horrors of beggary and want; to see my fortune given to my younger brother, and forced after all, in my state of ignominy, to serve the very man who has robbed me of everything: this is my fate, a fate I have but too well deserved. But would you believe it, Jasmin, in the midst of all my calamities, dead as I am to pleasures, and dead to every hope, hated by the world, despised by all, and expecting nothing, I yet dare to be—jealous.

jasmin.

Jealous! of whom?

euphemon.

Of my brother; of Lise.

jasmin.

So, you are in love with your sister! well, that’s a stroke worthy of you, the only sin you had never yet committed.

euphemon.

You are to know, Jasmin—for I believe you had then left Rondon—that we were no sooner out of our infancy, than our parents promised us to each other: our hearts readily obeyed, and were united: the conformity of our ages, our taste, our manners, our situation, everything conspired to strengthen the tie; like two young trees, we grew up together, and were to have joined our branches: time, that heightened her charms, improved her tenderness, and love made her every day more lovely: the world at that blest time might have envied me; but I was young, foolish, and blind; linked in with a set of wretches, who seduced my innocence; intoxicated with folly and extravagance, I made a merit of despising her passion for me, nay, even affronted her: O I reflect on it with horror. The crowd of vices, that rushed in upon me, carried me away from my father and my friends; what was my fate after this I need not inform you. Everything is gone; and heaven, which tore me from her, has left me nothing but a heart to punish me.

jasmin.

If so it be, and you really love her still, notwithstanding all your distress, Mme. de Croupillac’s advice was good, to insinuate yourself, if possible, into Rondon’s family. Your purse is empty, and love perhaps may find means to fill it again.

euphemon.

Could I ever dare to look upon her, to come in her sight, after what I have done, and in this miserable condition? No. I must avoid a father and a mistress; I have abused the goodness of them both and know not—but it is too late to repent—which should hate me most.

SCENE VI.

young euphemon, fierenfat, jasmin.

jasmin.

O here comes our wise President.

euphemon.

Is it he? I never saw his face before; my brother, and my rival!

fierenfat.

Come, come, this does not go amiss. I have pressed, and rated the old gentleman in such a manner, that I believe we shall be able to finish the affair in spite of him. But where are these fellows who are to serve me?

jasmin.

We are come, please your honor, to offer ourselves—

fierenfat.

Which of you two can read?

jasmin.

He, sir.

fierenfat.

And write, too, I suppose?

jasmin.

O yes, sir, and cipher, and cast accounts.

fierenfat.

Ay, but he must know how to talk, too.

jasmin.

He’s a little modest, sir, and but just recovered from a fit of sickness.

fierenfat.

He looks bold enough, I think, and as if he knew his own merit. Well, sir, what wages do you expect?

euphemon.

None, sir.

jasmin.

O sir, we have a most heroic soul.

fierenfat.

Well, upon those conditions I take you into my service: come, I’ll present you to my wife.

euphemon.

Your wife, sir?

fierenfat.

Yes, I’m going to be married.

euphemon.

When, pray?

fierenfat.

To-night.

euphemon.

O heaven! pray, sir, forgive me, but are you deeply in love with her, sir?

fierenfat.

Certainly.

euphemon.

Indeed?

fierenfat.

Yes.

euphemon.

And are you beloved?

fierenfat.

I hope so. A droll fellow, this! You seem extremely curious, sir.

euphemon.

[Aside.

How I wish to contradict him, and punish him for his excess of happiness!

fierenfat.

[To Jasmin.

What does he say?

jasmin.

He says, he wishes with all his heart he was like you, formed to please.

fierenfat.

The ambition of the coxcomb! but come, follow me: be diligent, sober, prudent, careful, clever, and respectful. What, ho! la Fleur, la Brie, you rascals, where are you all? follow me.

[He goes out.

euphemon.

Now could I like to salute him with two good boxes on the ear, to make that lawyer’s face of his twinge again.

jasmin.

I find, my friend, you are not mended much.

euphemon.

I’m sure it is time to be so; and I assure you, I intend to be wiser for the future: from all my errors I shall at least reap this advantage, to know how to suffer.

End of the Third Act.