Usbek to ***

They are always talking here about the Constitution. [1] The other day I entered a home where at once I saw was a fat man of red complexion who was saying in a loud voice : I have issued my pastoral, [2] I am not about to reply to everything you say ; but read my pastoral, and you will see that in it I have resolved all your doubts. It cost me a lot of sweat to write it, he said, putting his hand to his forehead ; I needed all my erudition, and I had to read many Latin authors. I believe it, said a man who was there, for it is a fine piece of work, and I defy that Jesuit who comes to see you so often to write a better one. Well, read it then, he rejoined, and you will be better informed on these matters in fifteen minutes than if I had spent two hours talking to you about them. That is how he avoided entering into conversation and risking his self-importance. But as he being pressed, he was obliged to come out from behind his barricades, and he began theologically to utter numerous idiocies, supported by a dervich who very respectfully replied in kind. When two men who were present would deny him some principle, he would first say : That is certain ; we have so judged it, and we are infallible judges. [3] And how is it, I asked at that point, that you are infallible judges ? Do you not see, he rejoined, that the Holy Spirit enlightens us ? That is a good thing, I replied ; for given the manner in which you have been talking all day, I acknowledge that you have great need of being enlightened.

Paris this 18^th day of the moon of Rebiab I, 1717