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as doing for me all that a father could do for a son； both in the care
with which you tended my education； and in the zeal with which you pushed
me forward into public life； so that my whole existence is a testimony of
your good offices towards me。 In short； I am indebted for all that I
have to you； who have been to me as a parent； and therefore I have no
right to part with anything； unless it be with your approval。〃
There was a general silence hereupon； and his uncle was prevented from
replying by tears and sobs。 At last he said that whatever he thought for
the best would be agreeable to him； and as he intended to make him his
heir； he was at liberty to dispose of what would be his。
Then he turned to his wife。 〃My image；〃 said he （for so he often called
her； there being some sort of relationship between them）； 〃since I have
been united to you by marriage； which is one of the most weighty and
sacred ties imposed on us by God； for the purpose of maintaining human
society； I have continued to love； cherish； and value you； and I know
that you have returned my affection； for which I have no sufficient
acknowledgment。 I beg you to accept such portion of my estate as I
bequeath to you； and be satisfied with it； though it is very inadequate
to your desert。〃
Afterwards he turned to me。 〃My brother；〃 he began； 〃for whom I have so
entire a love； and whom I selected out of so large a number； thinking to
revive with you that virtuous and sincere friendship which； owing to the
degeneracy of the age； has grown to be almost unknown to us； and now
exists only in certain vestiges of antiquity； I beg of you； as a mark of
my affection to you； to accept my library： a slender offering； but given
with a cordial will； and suitable to you； seeing that you are fond of
learning。 It will be a memorial of your old companion。〃
Then he addressed all three of us。 He blessed God that in his extremity
he had the happiness to be surrounded by those whom he held dearest in
the world； and he looked upon it as a fine spectacle； where four persons
were together； so unanimous in their feelings； and loving each other for
each other's sake。 He commended us one to the other； and proceeded thus：
〃My worldly matters being arranged； I must now think of the welfare of my
soul。 I am a Christian； I am a Catholic。 I have lived one； and I shall
die one。 Send for a priest； for I wish to conform to this last Christian
obligation。〃 He now concluded his discourse； which he had conducted with
such a firm face and with so distinct an utterance； that whereas； when I
first entered his room； he was feeble； inarticulate in his speech； his
pulse low and feverish； and his features pallid； now； by a sort of
miracle； he appeared to have rallied； and his pulse was so strong that
for the sake of comparison； I asked him to feel mine。
I felt my heart so oppressed at this moment； that I had not the power to
make him any answer； but in the course of two or three hours； solicitous
to keep up his courage； and； likewise； out of the tenderness which I had
had all my life for his honour and fame； wishing a larger number of
witnesses to his admirable fortitude； I said to him； how much I was
ashamed to think that I lacked courage to listen to what he； so great a
sufferer； had the courage to deliver； that down to the present time I had
scarcely conceived that God granted us such command over human
infirmities； and had found a difficulty in crediting the examples I had
read in histories； but that with such evidence of the thing before my
eyes； I gave praise to God that it had shown itself in one so excessively
dear to me； and who loved me so entirely； and that his example would help
me to act in a similar manner when my turn came。 Interrupting me； he
begged that it might happen so； and that the conversation which had
passed between us might not be mere words； but might be impressed deeply
on our minds； to be put in exercise at the first occasion； and that this
was the real object and aim of all philosophy。
He then took my hand； and continued： 〃Brother； friend； there are many
acts of my life； I think； which have cost me as much difficulty as this
one is likely to do； and； after all； I have been long prepared for it；
and have my lesson by heart。 Have I not lived long enough？ I am just
upon thirty…three。 By the grace of God； my days so far have known
nothing but health and happiness； but in the ordinary course of our
unstable human affairs； this could not have lasted much longer； it would
have become time for me to enter on graver avocations； and I should thus
have involved myself in numberless vexations； and； among them； the
troubles of old age； from which I shall now be exempt。 Moreover； it is
probable that hitherto my life has been spent more simply； and with less
of evil； than
if God had spared me； and I had survived to feel the thirst for riches
and worldly prosperity。 I am sure； for my part； that I now go to God and
the place of the blessed。〃 He seemed to detect in my expression some
inquietude at his words； and he exclaimed； 〃What； my brother； would you
make me entertain apprehensions？ Had I any； whom would it become so much
as yourself to remove them？〃
The notary； who had been summoned to draw up his will； came in the
evening； and when he had the documents prepared； I inquired of La Boetie
if he would sign them。 〃Sign them；〃 cried he； 〃I will do so with my own
hand； but I could desire more time； for I feel exceedingly timid and
weak； and in a manner exhausted。〃 But when I was going to change the
conversation； he suddenly rallied； said he had but a short time to live；
and asked if the notary wrote rapidly； for he should dictate without
making any pause。 The notary was called； and he dictated his will there
and then with such speed that the man could scarcely keep up with him；
and when he had done； he asked me to read it out； saying to me； 〃What a
good thing it is to look after what are called our riches。〃 'Sunt haec；
quoe hominibus vocantur bona'。 As soon as the will was signed； the
chamber being full； he asked me if it would hurt him to talk。 I
answered； that it would not； if he did not speak too loud。 He then
summoned Mademoiselle de Saint Quentin； his niece； to him； and addressed
her thus： 〃Dear niece； since my earliest acquaintance with thee； I have
observed the marks of； great natural goodness in thee； but the services
which thou rendered to me； with so much affectionate diligence； in my
present and last necessity； inspire me with high hopes of thee； and I am
under great obligations to thee； and give thee most affectionate thanks。
Let me relieve my conscience by counselling thee to be； in the first
place； devout； to God： for this doubtless is our first duty； failing
which all others can be of little advantage or grace； but which； duly
observed； carries with it necessarily all other virtues。 After God； thou
shouldest love thy father and motherthy mother； my sister； whom I
regard as one of the best and most intelligent of women； and by whom I
beg of thee to let thy own life be regulated。 Allow not thyself to be
led away by pleasures； shun； like the plague； the foolish familiarities
thou seest between some men and women； harmless enough at first； but
which by insidious degrees corrupt the heart； and thence lead it to
negligence； and then into the vile slough of vice。 Credit me； the
greatest safeguard to female chastity is sobriety of demeanour。 I
beseech and direct that thou often call to mind the friendship which was
betwixt us； but I do not wish thee to mourn for me too muchan
injunction which； so far as it is in my power； I lay on all my friends；
since it might seem that by doing so they felt a jealousy of that blessed
condition in which I am about to be placed by death。 I assure thee； my
dear； that if I had the option now of continuing in life or of completing
the voyage on which I have set out； I should find it very hard to choose。
Adieu； dear niece。〃
Mademoiselle d'Arsat； his stepdaughter； was next called。 He said to her：
〃Daughter； you stand in no great need of advice from me； insomuch as you
have a mother； whom I have ever found most sagacious； and entirely in
conformity with my own opinions and wishes； and whom I have never found
faulty； with such a preceptress； you cannot fail to be properly
instructed。 Do not account it singular that I； with no tie of blood to
you； am interested in you ； for； being the child of one who is so closely
allied to me； I am necessarily concerned in what concerns you； and
consequently the affairs of your brother； M。 d'Arsat； have ever been
watched by me with as much care as my own； nor perhaps will it be to your
disadvantage that you were my step…daughter。 You enjoy sufficient store
of wealth and beauty； you are a lady of good family； it only remains for
you to add to these possessions the cultivation of your mind； in which I
exhort you not to fail。 I do not think necessary to warn you against
vice； a thing so odious in women； for I would not even suppose that you
could harbour any inclination for itnay； I believe that you hold the
very name in abhorrence。 Dear daughter； farewell。〃
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