atleastforamouthorsixweeks；attheendofwhich，ifheisaharmlessfellow，hisinnocenceappears，andhecomesoutabetterandwisermanthanhewentin。
IhadsomeoccasionIforgetwhattostepintothecourt-yard，asIsettledthisaccount；andrememberIwalk'ddownstairsinnosmalltriumphwiththeconceitofmyreasoning-Beshrewthesombrepencil!saidI，vauntingly-forIenvynotitspowers，whichpaintstheevilsoflifewithsohardanddeadlyacolouring。
Themindsitsterrifiedattheobjectsshehasmagnifiedherself，andblackened:reducethemtotheirpropersizeandhue，sheoverlooksthem-'Tistrue，saidI，correctingtheproposition，-
theBastileisnotaneviltobedespised；-butstripitofitstowers-fillupthefosse，-unbarricadethedoors-callitsimplyaconfinement，andsuppose'tissometyrantofadistemper-
andnotofaman，whichholdsyouinit，-theevilvanishes，andyoubeartheotherhalfwithoutcomplaint。
Iwasinterruptedintheheydayofthissoliloquy，withavoicewhichItooktobeofachild，whichcomplained"itcouldnotgetout。"-Ilook'dupanddownthepassage，andseeingneitherman，woman，norchild，Iwentoutwithoutfartherattention。
Inmyreturnbackthroughthepassage，Iheardthesamewordsrepeatedtwiceover；and，lookingup，Isawitwasastarlinghunginalittlecage-"Ican'tgetout，-Ican'tgetout，"saidthestarling。
Istoodlookingatthebird:andtoeverypersonwhocamethroughthepassageitranflutteringtothesidetowardswhichtheyapproach'dit，withthesamelamentationofitscaptivity。"I
can'tgetout，"saidthestarling-Godhelpthee!saidI，butI'lllettheeout，costwhatitwill；soIturnedaboutthecagetogettothedoor:itwastwistedanddoubletwistedsofastwithwire，therewasnogettingitopenwithoutpullingthecagetopieces-Itookbothhandstoit。
ThebirdflewtotheplacewhereIwasattemptinghisdeliverance，andthrustinghisheadthroughthetrellispressedhisbreastagainstitasifimpatient-Ifear，poorcreature!saidI，I
cannotsettheeatliberty-"No，"saidthestarling，-"Ican'tgetout-Ican'tgetout，"saidthestarling。
IvowIneverhadmyaffectionsmoretenderlyawakened；nordoI
rememberanincidentinmylife，wherethedissipatedspirits，towhichmyreasonhadbeenabubble，weresosuddenlycall'dhome。
Mechanicalasthenoteswere，yetsotrueintunetonatureweretheychanted，thatinonemomenttheyoverthrewallmysystematicreasoningsupontheBastile；andIheavilywalkedupstairs，unsayingeverywordIhadsaidingoingdownthem。
Disguisethyselfasthouwilt，still，Slavery!saidI，-stillthouartabitterdraught!andthoughthousandsinallageshavebeenmadetodrinkofthee，thouartnolessbitteronthataccount-
'Tisthou，thricesweetandgraciousgoddess，addressingmyselftoLiberty，whomallinpublicorinprivateworship，whosetasteisgrateful，andeverwillbeso，tillNatureherselfshallchange-
NoTINTofwordscanspotthysnowymantle，orchymicpowerturnthysceptreintoiron:-withtheetosmileuponhimasheeatshiscrust，theswainishappierthanhismonarch，fromwhosecourtthouartexiled!-GraciousHeaven!criedI，kneelingdownuponthelaststepbutoneinmyascent，grantmebuthealth，thougreatBestowerofit，andgivemebutthisfairgoddessasmycompanion，-andshowerdownthymitres，ifitseemsgooduntothydivineprovidence，uponthoseheadswhichareachingforthem!
THECAPTIVE。PARIS。
THEbirdinhiscagepursuedmeintomyroom；Isatdownclosetomytable，andleaningmyheaduponmyhand，Ibegantofiguretomyselfthemiseriesofconfinement。Iwasinarightframeforit，andsoIgavefullscopetomyimagination。
Iwasgoingtobeginwiththemillionsofmyfellow-creaturesborntonoinheritancebutslavery:butfinding，howeveraffectingthepicturewas，thatIcouldnotbringitnearme，andthatthemultitudeofsadgroupsinitdidbutdistractme——
Itookasinglecaptive，andhavingfirstshuthimupinhisdungeon，Ithenlook'dthroughthetwilightofhisgrateddoortotakehispicture。
Ibeheldhisbodyhalf-wastedawaywithlongexpectationandconfinement，andfeltwhatkindofsicknessoftheheartitwaswhicharisesfromhopedeferr'd。UponlookingnearerIsawhimpaleandfeverish:inthirtyyearsthewesternbreezehadnotoncefann'dhisblood；-hehadseennosun，nomoon，inallthattime-
norhadthevoiceoffriendorkinsmanbreathedthroughhislattice-Hischildren-
Butheremyheartbegantobleed-andIwasforcedtogoonwithanotherpartoftheportrait。
Hewassittinguponthegrounduponalittlestraw，inthefurthestcornerofhisdungeon，whichwasalternatelyhischairandbed:alittlecalendarofsmallstickswerelaidatthehead，notch'dalloverwiththedismaldaysandnightshehadpassedthere；-hehadoneoftheselittlesticksinhishand，and，witharustynailhewasetchinganotherdayofmiserytoaddtotheheap。AsI
darkenedthelittlelighthehad，heliftedupahopelesseyetowardsthedoor，thencastitdown，-shookhishead，andwentonwithhisworkofaffliction。Iheardhischainsuponhislegs，asheturnedhisbodytolayhislittlestickuponthebundle-Hegaveadeepsigh-Isawtheironenterintohissoul!-Iburstintotears-Icouldnotsustainthepictureofconfinementwhichmyfancyhaddrawn-Istartedupfrommychair，andcallingLaFleur:Ibidhimbespeakmearemise，andhaveitreadyatthedoorofthehotelbynineinthemorning。
I'llgodirectly，saidI，myselftoMonsieurleDucdeChoiseul。
LaFleurwouldhaveputmetobed；but-notwillingheshouldseeanythinguponmycheekwhichwouldcostthehonestfellowaheart-
ache，-ItoldhimIwouldgotobedbymyself，-andbidhimgodothesame。
THESTARLING。ROADTOVERSAILLES。
IGOTintomyremisethehourIproposed:LaFleurgotupbehind，andIbidthecoachmanmakethebestofhiswaytoVersailles。
Astherewasnothinginthisroad，orrathernothingwhichIlookforintravelling，Icannotfilluptheblankbetterthanwithashorthistoryofthisself-samebird，whichbecamethesubjectofthelastchapter。
WhilsttheHonourableMr-waswaitingforawindatDover，ithadbeencaughtuponthecliffs，beforeitcouldwellfly，byanEnglishladwhowashisgroom；who，notcaringtodestroyit，hadtakenitinhisbreastintothepacket；-and，bycourseoffeedingit，andtakingitonceunderhisprotection，inadayortwogrewfondofit，andgotitsafealongwithhimtoParis。
AtParistheladhadlaidoutalivreinalittlecageforthestarling，andashehadlittletodobetterthefivemonthshismasterstaidthere，hetaughtit，inhismother'stongue，thefoursimplewords-andnomore-towhichIown'dmyselfsomuchitsdebtor。
Uponhismaster'sgoingonforItaly，theladhadgivenittothemasterofthehotel。ButhislittlesongforlibertybeinginanUNKNOWNlanguageatParis，thebirdhadlittleornostoresetbyhim:soLaFleurboughtbothhimandhiscageformeforabottleofBurgundy。
InmyreturnfromItalyIbroughthimwithmetothecountryinwhoselanguagehehadlearnedhisnotes；andtellingthestoryofhimtoLordA-，LordA-begg'dthebirdofme；-inaweekLordA-
gavehimtoLordB-；LordB-madeapresentofhimtoLordC-；andLordC-'sgentlemansoldhimtoLordD-'sforashilling；LordD-
gavehimtoLordE-；andsoon-halfroundthealphabet。Fromthatrankhepass'dintothelowerhouse，andpass'dthehandsofasmanycommoners。ButasallthesewantedtoGETIN，andmybirdwantedtoGETOUT，hehadalmostaslittlestoresetbyhiminLondonasinParis。
Itisimpossiblebutmanyofmyreadersmusthaveheardofhim；andifanybymerechancehaveeverseenhim，Ibegleavetoinformthem，thatthatbirdwasmybird，orsomevilecopysetuptorepresenthim。
Ihavenothingfarthertoadduponhim，butthatfromthattimetothisIhavebornethispoorstarlingasthecresttomyarms-
Thus:
[Picturewhichcannotbereproduced]-
Andlettheherald'sofficerstwisthisneckaboutiftheydare。
THEADDRESS。VERSAILLES。
ISHOULDnotliketohavemyenemytakeaviewofmymindwhenIamgoingtoaskprotectionofanyman；forwhichreasonIgenerallyendeavourtoprotectmyself；butthisgoingtoMonsieurleDucdeC-wasanactofcompulsion；haditbeenanactofchoice，Ishouldhavedoneit，Isuppose，likeotherpeople。
Howmanymeanplansofdirtyaddress，asIwentalong，didmyservileheartform!IdeservedtheBastileforeveryoneofthem。
ThennothingwouldservemewhenIgotwithinsightofVersailles，butputtingwordsandsentencestogether，andconceivingattitudesandtonestowreathmyselfintoMonsieurleDucdeC-'sgoodgraces-Thiswilldo，saidI-Justaswell，retortedIagain，asacoatcarrieduptohimbyanadventuroustailor，withouttakinghismeasure。Fool!continuedI，-seeMonsieurleDuc'sfacefirst；-observewhatcharacteriswritteninit；-takenoticeinwhatposturehestandstohearyou；-marktheturnsandexpressionsofhisbodyandlimbs；-andforthetone，-thefirstsoundwhichcomesfromhislipswillgiveityou；andfromallthesetogetheryou'llcompoundanaddressatonceuponthespot，whichcannotdisgusttheDuke；-theingredientsarehisown，andmostlikelytogodown。
Well!saidI，Iwishitwellover-Cowardagain!asifmantomanwasnotequalthroughoutthewholesurfaceoftheglobe；andifinthefield-whynotfacetofaceinthecabinettoo?Andtrustme，Yorick，wheneveritisnotso，manisfalsetohimselfandbetrayshisownsuccourstentimeswherenaturedoesitonce。GototheDucdeC-withtheBastileinthylooks；-mylifeforit，thouwiltbesentbacktoParisinhalfanhourwithanescort。
Ibelieveso，saidI-ThenI'llgototheDuke，byheaven!withallthegaietyanddebonairnessintheworld——
Andthereyouarewrongagain，repliedI-Aheartatease，Yorick，fliesintonoextremes-'tiseveronitscentre-Well!
well!criedI，asthecoachmanturn'dinatthegates，IfindI
shalldoverywell:andbythetimehehadwheel'droundthecourt，andbroughtmeuptothedoor，Ifoundmyselfsomuchthebetterformyownlecture，thatIneitherascendedthestepslikeavictimtojustice，whowastopartwithlifeuponthetopmost，-nordidImountthemwithaskipandacoupleofstrides，asIdowhenI
flyup，Eliza!totheetomeetit。
AsIenteredthedoorofthesaloonIwasmetbyaperson，whopossiblymightbetheMAITRED'HOTEL，buthadmoretheairofoneoftheundersecretaries，whotoldmetheDucdeC-wasbusy-I
amutterlyignorant，saidI，oftheformsofobtaininganaudience，beinganabsolutestranger，andwhatisworseinthepresentconjunctureofaffairs，beinganEnglishmantoo-Hereplied，thatdidnotincreasethedifficulty-Imadehimaslightbow，andtoldhim，IhadsomethingofimportancetosaytoMonsieurleDuc。
Thesecretarylook'dtowardsthestairs，asifhewasabouttoleavemetocarryupthisaccounttosomeone-ButImustnotmisleadyou，saidI，-forwhatIhavetosayisofnomannerofimportancetoMonsieurleDucdeC——butofgreatimportancetomyself-C'ESTUNEAUTREAFFAIRE，repliedhe-Notatall，saidI，toamanofgallantry-Butpray，goodsir，continuedI，whencanastrangerhopetohaveaccess?-Innotlessthantwohours，saidhe，lookingathiswatch。Thenumberofequipagesinthecourt-yardseemedtojustifythecalculation，thatIcouldhavenoneareraprospect；-andaswalkingbackwardsandforwardsinthesaloon，withoutasoultocommunewith，wasforthetimeasbadasbeingintheBastileitself，Iinstantlywentbacktomyremise，andbidthecoachmandrivemetotheCORDONBLEU，whichwasthenearesthotel。
Ithinkthereisafatalityinit；-IseldomgototheplaceIsetoutfor。
LEPATISSIER。VERSAILLES。
BEFOREIhadgothalfwaydownthestreetIchangedmymind:asI
amatVersailles，thoughtI，Imightaswelltakeaviewofthetown；soIpull'dthecord，andorderedthecoachmantodriveroundsomeoftheprincipalstreets-Isupposethetownisnotverylarge，saidI-Thecoachmanbegg'dpardonforsettingmeright，andtoldmeitwasverysuperb，andthatnumbersofthefirstdukesandmarquisesandcountshadhotels-TheCountdeB-，ofwhomthebooksellerattheQuaideContihadspokesohandsomelythenightbefore，cameinstantlyintomymind-AndwhyshouldInotgo，thoughtI，totheCountdeB-，whohassohighanideaofEnglishbooksandEnglishmen-andtellhimmystory?soIchangedmymindasecondtime-Intruthitwasthethird；forIhadintendedthatdayforMadamedeR-，intheRueSt。Pierre，andhaddevoutlysentherwordbyherFILLEDECHAMBREthatIwouldassuredlywaituponher；-butIamgovernedbycircumstances；-Icannotgovernthem:
soseeingamanstandingwithabasketontheothersideofthestreet，asifhehadsomethingtosell，IbidLaFleurgouptohim，andenquirefortheCount'shotel。
LaFleurreturnedalittlepale；andtoldmeitwasaChevalierdeSt。Louissellingpates-Itisimpossible，LaFleur，saidI-LaFleurcouldnomoreaccountforthephenomenonthanmyself；butpersistedinhisstory:hehadseenthecroixsetingold，withitsredriband，hesaid，tiedtohisbuttonhole-andhadlookedintothebasketandseenthepateswhichtheChevalierwasselling；socouldnotbemistakeninthat。
Suchareverseinman'slifeawakensabetterprinciplethancuriosity:IcouldnothelplookingforsometimeathimasIsatintheremise:-themoreIlook'dathim，hiscroix，andhisbasket，thestrongertheywovethemselvesintomybrain-Igotoutoftheremise，andwenttowardshim。
Hewasbegirtwithacleanlinenapronwhichfellbelowhisknees，andwithasortofabibthatwenthalfwayuphisbreast；uponthetopofthis，butalittlebelowthehem，hunghiscroix。Hisbasketoflittlepateswascoveredoverwithawhitedamasknapkin；
anotherofthesamekindwasspreadatthebottom；andtherewasalookofPROPRETEandneatnessthroughout，thatonemighthaveboughthispatesofhim，asmuchfromappetiteassentiment。
Hemadeanofferofthemtoneither；butstoodstillwiththematthecornerofanhotel，forthosetobuywhochoseitwithoutsolicitation。
Hewasaboutforty-eight；-ofasedatelook，somethingapproachingtogravity。Ididnotwonder-Iwentuprathertothebasketthanhim，andhavingliftedupthenapkin，andtakingoneofhispatesintomyhand，-Ibegg'dhewouldexplaintheappearancewhichaffectedme。
Hetoldmeinafewwords，thatthebestpartofhislifehadpassedintheservice，inwhich，afterspendingasmallpatrimony，hehadobtainedacompanyandthecroixwithit；butthat，attheconclusionofthelastpeace，hisregimentbeingreformed，andthewholecorps，withthoseofsomeotherregiments，leftwithoutanyprovision，hefoundhimselfinawideworldwithoutfriends，withoutalivre，-andindeed，saidhe，withoutanythingbutthis，-pointing，ashesaidit，tohiscroix-ThepoorChevalierwonmypity，andhefinishedthescenewithwinningmyesteemtoo。
Theking，hesaid，wasthemostgenerousofprinces，buthisgenerositycouldneitherrelievenorrewardeveryone，anditwasonlyhismisfortunetobeamongstthenumber。Hehadalittlewife，hesaid，whomheloved，whodidthePATISSERIE；andadded，hefeltnodishonourindefendingherandhimselffromwantinthisway-unlessProvidencehadoffer'dhimabetter。
Itwouldbewickedtowithholdapleasurefromthegood，inpassingoverwhathappen'dtothispoorChevalierofSt。Louisaboutninemonthsafter。
Itseemsheusuallytookhisstandneartheirongateswhichleaduptothepalace，andashiscroixhadcaughttheeyesofnumbers，numbershadmadethesameenquirywhichIhaddone-Hehadtoldthemthesamestory，andalwayswithsomuchmodestyandgoodsense，thatithadreach'datlasttheking'sears；-who，hearingtheChevalierhadbeenagallantofficer，andrespectedbythewholeregimentasamanofhonourandintegrity，-hebrokeuphislittletradebyapensionoffifteenhundredlivresayear。
AsIhavetoldthistopleasethereader，Ibeghewillallowmetorelateanother，outofitsorder，topleasemyself:-thetwostoriesreflectlightuponeachother，-and'tisapitytheyshouldbeparted。
THESWORD。RENNES。
WHENstatesandempireshavetheirperiodsofdeclension，andfeelintheirturnswhatdistressandpovertyis，-Istopnottotellthecauseswhichgraduallybroughtthehoused'E-，inBrittany，intodecay。TheMarquisd'E-hadfoughtupagainsthisconditionwithgreatfirmness；wishingtopreserve，andstillshowtotheworld，somelittlefragmentsofwhathisancestorshadbeen；-
theirindiscretionshadputitoutofhispower。TherewasenoughleftforthelittleexigenciesofOBSCURITY-ButhehadtwoboyswholookeduptohimforLIGHT；-hethoughttheydeservedit。Hehadtriedhissword-itcouldnotopentheway，-theMOUNTINGwastooexpensive，-andsimpleeconomywasnotamatchforit:-therewasnoresourcebutcommerce。
InanyotherprovinceinFrance，saveBrittany，thiswassmitingtherootforeverofthelittletreehisprideandaffectionwish'dtoseere-blossom-ButinBrittany，therebeingaprovisionforthis，heavail'dhimselfofit；and，takinganoccasionwhenthestateswereassembledatRennes，theMarquis，attendedwithhistwoboys，enteredthecourt；andhavingpleadedtherightofanancientlawoftheduchy，which，thoughseldomclaim'd，hesaid，wasnolessinforce，hetookhisswordfromhisside:-Here，saidhe，takeit；andbetrustyguardiansofit，tillbettertimesputmeinconditiontoreclaimit。
ThepresidentacceptedtheMarquis'ssword:hestaidafewminutestoseeitdepositedinthearchivesofhishouse-anddeparted。
TheMarquisandhiswholefamilyembarkedthenextclayforMartinico，andinaboutnineteenortwentyyearsofsuccessfulapplicationtobusiness，withsomeunlook'dforbequestsfromdistantbranchesofhishouse，returnhometoreclaimhisnobility，andtosupportit。
ItwasanincidentofgoodfortunewhichwillneverhappentoanytravellerbutaSentimentalone，thatIshouldbeatRennesattheverytimeofthissolemnrequisition:Icallitsolemn；-itwassotome。
TheMarquisenteredthecourtwithhiswholefamily:hesupportedhislady，-hiseldestsonsupportedhissister，andhisyoungestwasattheotherextremeofthelinenexthismother；-heputhishandkerchieftohisfacetwice——
Therewasadeadsilence。WhentheMarquishadapproachedwithinsixpacesofthetribunal，hegavetheMarchionesstohisyoungestson，andadvancingthreestepsbeforehisfamily，-hereclaim'dhissword。Hisswordwasgivenhim，andthemomenthegotitintohishandhedrewitalmostoutofthescabbard:-'twastheshiningfaceofafriendhehadoncegivenup-helook'dattentivelyalongit，beginningatthehilt，asiftoseewhetheritwasthesame，-
when，observingalittlerustwhichithadcontractednearthepoint，hebroughtitnearhiseye，andbendinghisheaddownoverit，-Ithink-Isawatearfallupontheplace。Icouldnotbedeceivedbywhatfollowed。
"Ishallfind，"saidhe，"someOTHERWAYtogetitoff。"
WhentheMarquishadsaidthis，hereturnedhisswordintoitsscabbard，madeabowtotheguardiansofit，-and，withhiswifeanddaughter，andhistwosonsfollowinghim，walk'dout。
O，howIenviedhimhisfeelings!
THEPASSPORT。VERSAILLES。
IFOUNDnodifficultyingettingadmittancetoMonsieurleCountdeB。ThesetofShakespeareswaslaiduponthetable，andhewastumblingthemover。Iwalk'dupclosetothetable，andgivingfirstsuchalookatthebooksastomakehimconceiveIknewwhattheywere，-ItoldhimIhadcomewithoutanyonetopresentme，knowingIshouldmeetwithafriendinhisapartment，who，I
trusted，woulddoitforme:-itismycountryman，thegreatShakespeare，saidI，pointingtohisworks-ETAYEZLABOUTE，MON
CHERAMI，apostrophizinghisspirit，addedI，DEMEFAIRECET
HONNEUR-LE-
TheCountsmiledatthesingularityoftheintroduction；andseeingIlook'dalittlepaleandsickly，insisteduponmytakinganarm-
chair；soIsatdown；andtosavehimconjecturesuponavisitsooutofallrule，Itoldhimsimplyoftheincidentinthebookseller'sshop，andhowthathadimpelledmerathertogotohimwiththestoryofalittleembarrassmentIwasunder，thantoanyothermaninFrance-Andwhatisyourembarrassment?letmehearit，saidtheCount。SoItoldhimthestoryjustasIhavetolditthereader-
Andthemasterofmyhotel，saidI，asIconcludedit，willneedshaveit，MonsieurleCount，thatIshallbesenttotheBastile；-
butIhavenoapprehensions，continuedI；-for，infallingintothehandsofthemostpolish'dpeopleintheworld，andbeingconsciousIwasatrueman，andnotcometospythenakednessoftheland，IscarcethoughtIlayattheirmercy-ItdoesnotsuitthegallantryoftheFrench，MonsieurleCount，saidI，toshowitagainstinvalids。
AnanimatedblushcameintotheCountdeB-'scheeksasIspokethis-NECRAIGNEZRIEN-Don'tfear，saidhe-Indeed，Idon't，repliedIagain-Besides，continuedI，alittlesportingly，I
havecomelaughingallthewayfromLondontoParis，andIdonotthinkMonsieurleDucdeChoiseulissuchanenemytomirthastosendmebackcryingformypains-
Myapplicationtoyou，MonsieurleCountdeB-makinghimalowbow，istodesirehewillnot。
TheCountheardmewithgreatgoodnature，orIhadnotsaidhalfasmuch，-andonceortwicesaid，-C'ESTBIENDIT。SoIrestedmycausethere-anddeterminedtosaynomoreaboutit。
TheCountledthediscourse:wetalk'dofindifferentthings，-ofbooks，andpolitics，andmen；-andthenofwomen-Godblessthemall!saidI，aftermuchdiscourseaboutthem-thereisnotamanuponearthwholovesthemsomuchasIdo:afterallthefoiblesI
haveseen，andallthesatiresIhavereadagainstthem，stillI
lovethem；beingfirmlypersuadedthataman，whohasnotasortofaffectionforthewholesex，isincapableofeverlovingasingleoneasheought。
EHBIEN!MONSIEURL'ANGLOIS，saidtheCount，gaily；-youarenotcometospythenakednessoftheland；-Ibelieveyou；-NI
ENCORE，Idaresay，THATofourwomen!-Butpermitmetoconjecture，-if，PARHAZARD，theyfellintoyourway，thattheprospectwouldnotaffectyou。
Ihavesomethingwithinmewhichcannotbeartheshockoftheleastindecentinsinuation:inthesportabilityofchit-chatIhaveoftenendeavouredtoconquerit，andwithinfinitepainhavehazardedathousandthingstoadozenofthesextogether，-theleastofwhichIcouldnotventuretoasingleonetogainheaven。
Excuseme，MonsieurleCount，saidI；-asforthenakednessofyourland，ifIsawit，Ishouldcastmyeyesoveritwithtearsinthem；-andforthatofyourwomenblushingattheideahehadexcitedinmeIamsoevangelicalinthis，andhavesuchafellow-
feelingforwhateverisweakaboutthem，thatIwouldcoveritwithagarmentifIknewhowtothrowiton:-ButIcouldwish，continuedI，tospythenakednessoftheirhearts，andthroughthedifferentdisguisesofcustoms，climates，andreligion，findoutwhatisgoodinthemtofashionmyownby:-andthereforeamI
come。
Itisforthisreason，MonsieurleCount，continuedI，thatIhavenotseenthePalaisRoyal，-northeLuxembourg，-northeFacadeoftheLouvre，-norhaveattemptedtoswellthecatalogueswehaveofpictures，statues，andchurches-Iconceiveeveryfairbeingasatemple，andwouldratherenterin，andseetheoriginaldrawingsandloosesketcheshungupinit，thantheTransfigurationofRaphaelitself。
Thethirstofthis，continuedI，asimpatientasthatwhichinflamesthebreastoftheconnoisseur，hasledmefrommyownhomeintoFrance，-andfromFrancewillleadmethroughItaly；-'tisaquietjourneyoftheheartinpursuitofNature，andthoseaffectionswhichariseoutofher，whichmakeusloveeachother，-
andtheworld，betterthanwedo。
TheCountsaidagreatmanycivilthingstomeupontheoccasion；
andaddedverypolitely，howmuchhestoodobligedtoShakespeareformakingmeknowntohim-ButAPROPOS，saidhe；-Shakespeareisfullofgreatthings；-heforgotasmallpunctilioofannouncingyourname:-itputsyouunderanecessityofdoingityourself。
THEPASSPORT。VERSAILLES。
THEREisnotamoreperplexingaffairinlifetome，thantosetabouttellinganyonewhoIam，-forthereisscarceanybodyI
cannotgiveabetteraccountofthanmyself；andIhaveoftenwishedIcoulddoitinasingleword，-andhaveanendofit。ItwastheonlytimeandoccasioninmylifeIcouldaccomplishthistoanypurpose；-forShakespearelyinguponthetable，andrecollectingIwasinhisbooks，ItookupHamlet，andturningimmediatelytothegrave-diggers'sceneinthefifthact，IlaidmyfingeruponYorick，andadvancingthebooktotheCount，withmyfingerallthewayoverthename，-MEVOICI!saidI。
Now，whethertheideaofpoorYorick'sskullwasputoutoftheCount'smindbytherealityofmyown，orbywhatmagichecoulddropaperiodofsevenoreighthundredyears，makesnothinginthisaccount；-'tiscertaintheFrenchconceivebetterthantheycombine；-Iwonderatnothinginthisworld，andthelessatthis；
inasmuchasoneofthefirstofourownChurch，forwhosecandourandpaternalsentimentsIhavethehighestveneration，fellintothesamemistakeintheverysamecase:-"Hecouldnotbear，"hesaid，"tolookintothesermonswrotebytheKingofDenmark'sjester。"Good，myLordsaidI；buttherearetwoYoricks。TheYorickyourLordshipthinksof，hasbeendeadandburiedeighthundredyearsago；heflourishedinHorwendillus'scourt；-theotherYorickismyself，whohaveflourished，myLord，innocourt-
Heshookhishead。GoodGod!saidI，youmightaswellconfoundAlexandertheGreatwithAlexandertheCoppersmith，mylord!-
"'Twasallone，"hereplied——
IfAlexander，KingofMacedon，couldhavetranslatedyourLordship，saidI，I'msureyourLordshipwouldnothavesaidso。
ThepoorCountdeB-fellbutintothesameERROR-
ET，MONSIEUR，EST-ILYORICK?criedtheCount-JELESUIS，saidI-VOUS?-MOI，-MOIQUIAIL'HONNEURDEVOUSPARLER，MONSIEUR
LECOMTE-MONDIEU!saidhe，embracingme，-VOUSETESYORICK!
TheCountinstantlyputtheShakespeareintohispocket，andleftmealoneinhisroom。
THEPASSPORT。VERSAILLES。
ICOULDnotconceivewhytheCountdeB-hadgonesoabruptlyoutoftheroom，anymorethanIcouldconceivewhyhehadputtheShakespeareintohispocket-
MYSTERIESWHICHMUSTEXPLAINTHEMSELVESARENOTWORTHTHELOSSOF
TIMEWHICHACONJECTUREABOUTTHEMTAKESUP:'twasbettertoreadShakespeare；sotakingup"MUCHADOABOUTNOTHING，"ItransportedmyselfinstantlyfromthechairIsatintoMessinainSicily，andgotsobusywithDonPedro，andBenedict，andBeatrice，thatI
thoughtnotofVersailles，theCount，orthepassport。
Sweetpliabilityofman'sspirit，thatcanatoncesurrenderitselftoillusions，whichcheatexpectationandsorrowoftheirwearymoments!-Long，-longsincehadyenumber'doutmydays，hadI
nottrodsogreatapartofthemuponthisenchantedground。Whenmywayistooroughformyfeet，ortoosteepformystrength，I
getoffit，tosomesmoothvelvetpath，whichFancyhasscatteredoverwithrosebudsofdelights；andhavingtakenafewturnsinit，comebackstrengthenedandrefresh'd-Whenevilspresssoreuponme，andthereisnoretreatfromtheminthisworld，thenItakeanewcourse；-Ileaveit，-andasIhaveaclearerideaoftheElysianfieldsthanIhaveofheaven，Iforcemyself，likeAEneas，intothem-IseehimmeetthepensiveshadeofhisforsakenDido，andwishtorecogniseit；-Iseetheinjuredspiritwaveherhead，andturnoffsilentfromtheauthorofhermiseriesanddishonours；-
Ilosethefeelingsformyselfinhers，andinthoseaffectionswhichwerewonttomakememournforherwhenIwasatschool。
SURELYTHISISNOTWALKINGINAVAINSHADOW-NORDOESMANDISQUIET
HIMSELFinvainBYIT:-heoftenerdoessointrustingtheissueofhiscommotionstoreasononly-Icansafelysayformyself，Iwasneverabletoconqueranyonesinglebadsensationinmyheartsodecisively，asbeatingupasfastasIcouldforsomekindlyandgentlesensationtofightituponitsowngroundWhenIhadgottotheendofthethirdacttheCountdeB-entered，withmypassportinhishand。MonsieurleDucdeC-，saidtheCount，isasgoodaprophet，Idaresay，asheisastatesman。UN
HOMMEQUIRIT，saidtheDuke，NESERAJAMAISDANGEREUX-Haditbeenforanyonebuttheking'sjester，addedtheCount，Icouldnothavegotitthesetwohours-PARDONNEZMOI，MonsieurleCount，saidI-Iamnottheking'sjester-ButyouareYorick?-
Yes-ETVOUSPLAISANTEZ?-Ianswered，IndeedIdidjest，-butwasnotpaidforit；-'twasentirelyatmyownexpense。
Wehavenojesteratcourt，MonsieurleCount，saidI；thelastwehadwasinthelicentiousreignofCharlesII。；-sincewhichtimeourmannershavebeensograduallyrefining，thatourcourtatpresentissofullofpatriots，whowishforNOTHINGbutthehonoursandwealthoftheircountry；-andourladiesareallsochaste，sospotless，sogood，sodevout，-thereisnothingforajestertomakeajestof-
VOILAUNPERSIFLAGE!criedtheCount。
THEPASSPORT。VERSAILLES。
ASthepassportwasdirectedtoalllieutenant-governors，governors，andcommandantsofcities，generalsofarmies，justiciaries，andallofficersofjustice，toletMr。Yoricktheking'sjester，andhisbaggage，travelquietlyalong，Iownthetriumphofobtainingthepassportwasnotalittletarnish'dbythefigureIcutinit-Butthereisnothingunmix'dinthisworld；