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erected for them； and on the top a stately bed； where； after having
joyfully feasted their friends and acquaintance； they laid them down with
so great resolution； that fire being applied to it； they were never seen
to stir either hand or foot； and after this manner； one of them； Calanus
by name； expired in the presence of the whole army of Alexander the
Great。 And he was neither reputed holy nor happy amongst them who did
not thus destroy himself； dismissing his soul purged and purified by the
fire； after having consumed all that was earthly and mortal。 This
constant premeditation of the whole life is that which makes the wonder。
Amongst our other controversies； that of 'Fatum' has also crept in； and
to tie things to come； and even our own wills； to a certain and
inevitable necessity； we are yet upon this argument of time past：
〃Since God foresees that all things shall so fall out； as doubtless He
does； it must then necessarily follow； that they must so fall out〃： to
which our masters reply： 〃that the seeing anything come to pass； as we
do； and as God Himself also does （for all things being present with him；
He rather sees； than foresees）； is not to compel an event： that is； we
see because things do fall out； but things do not fall out because we
see： events cause knowledge； but knowledge does not cause events。 That
which we see happen； does happen； but it might have happened otherwise：
and God； in the catalogue of the causes of events which He has in His
prescience； has also those which we call accidental and voluntary；
depending upon the liberty。 He has given our free will； and knows that
we do amiss because we would do so。〃
I have seen a great many commanders encourage their soldiers with this
fatal necessity； for if our time be limited to a certain hour； neither
the enemies' shot nor our own boldness； nor our flight and cowardice；
can either shorten or prolong our lives。 This is easily said； but see
who will be so easily persuaded； and if it be so that a strong and lively
faith draws along with it actions of the same kind； certainly this faith
we so much brag of； is very light in this age of ours； unless the
contempt it has of works makes it disdain their company。 So it is； that
to this very purpose the Sire de Joinville； as credible a witness as any
other whatever； tells us of the Bedouins； a nation amongst the Saracens；
with whom the king St。 Louis had to do in the Holy Land； that they； in
their religion； so firmly believed the number of every man's days to be
from all eternity prefixed and set down by an inevitable decree； that
they went naked to the wars； excepting a Turkish sword； and their bodies
only covered with a white linen cloth： and for the greatest curse they
could invent when they were angry； this was always in their mouths：
〃Accursed be thou； as he that arms himself for fear of death。〃 This is a
testimony of faith very much beyond ours。 And of this sort is that also
that two friars of Florence gave in our fathers' days。 Being engaged in
some controversy of learning； they agreed to go both of them into the
fire in the sight of all the people； each for the verification of his
argument； and all things were already prepared； and the thing just upon
the point of execution； when it was interrupted by an unexpected
accident。＇7th April 1498。 Savonarola issued the challenge。 After many
delays from demands and counter…demands by each side as to the details of
the fire； both parties found that they had important business to transact
in another countyboth just barely escaped assassination at the hands of
the disappointed spectators。 D。W。＇
A young Turkish lord； having performed a notable exploit in his own
person in the sight of both armies； that of Amurath and that of Huniades；
ready to join battle； being asked by Amurath； what in such tender and
inexperienced years （for it was his first sally into arms） had inspired
him with so brave a courage； replied； that his chief tutor for valour was
a hare。 〃For being；〃 said he； 〃one day a hunting； I found a hare
sitting； and though I had a brace of excellent greyhounds with me； yet
methought it would be best for sureness to make use of my bow； for she
sat very fair。 I then fell to letting fly my arrows； and shot forty that
I had in my quiver； not only without hurting； but without starting her
from her form。 At last I slipped my dogs after her； but to no more
purpose than I had shot： by which I understood that she had been secured
by her destiny； and； that neither darts nor swords can wound without the
permission of fate； which we can neither hasten nor defer。〃 This story
may serve； by the way； to let us see how flexible our reason is to all
sorts of images。
A person of great years； name； dignity； and learning boasted to me that
he had been induced to a certain very important change in his faith by a
strange and whimsical incitation； and one otherwise so inadequate； that I
thought it much stronger； taken the contrary way： he called it a miracle；
and so I look upon it； but in a different sense。 The Turkish historians
say； that the persuasion those of their nation have imprinted in them of
the fatal and unalterable prescription of their days； manifestly conduces
to the giving them great assurance in dangers。 And I know a great prince
who makes very fortunate use of it； whether it be that he really believes
it； or that he makes it his excuse for so wonderfully hazarding himself：
let us hope Fortune may not be too soon weary of her favour to him。
There has not happened in our memory a more admirable effect of
resolution than in those two who conspired the death of the Prince of
Orange。
＇The first of these was Jehan de Jaureguy； who wounded the Prince
18th March 1582； the second； by whom the Prince was killed 10th July
1584。； was Balthazar Gerard。＇
'Tis marvellous how the second who executed it； could ever be persuaded
into an attempt； wherein his companion； who had done his utmost； had had
so ill success； and after the same method； and with the same arms； to go
attack a lord； armed with so recent a late lesson of distrust； powerful
in followers and bodily strength； in his own hall； amidst his guards； and
in a city wholly at his devotion。 Assuredly； he employed a very resolute
arm and a courage enflamed with furious passion。 A poignard is surer for
striking home； but by reason that more motion and force of hand is
required than with a pistol； the blow is more subject to be put by or
hindered。 That this man did not run to a certain death； I make no great
doubt； for the hopes any one could flatter him withal； could not find
place in any sober understanding； and the conduct of his exploit
sufficiently manifests that he had no want of that； no more than of
courage。 The motives of so powerful a persuasion may be diverse； for our
fancy does what it will； both with itself and us。 The execution that was
done near Orleans ＇The murder of the Duke of Guise by Poltrot。＇was
nothing like this； there was in this more of chance than vigour； the
wound was not mortal； if fortune had not made it so； and to attempt to
shoot on horseback； and at a great distance； by one whose body was in
motion from the motion of his horse； was the attempt of a man who had
rather miss his blow than fail of saving himself。 This was apparent from
what followed； for he was so astonished and stupefied with the thought of
so high an execution； that he totally lost his judgment both to find his
way to flight and to govern his tongue。 What needed he to have done more
than to fly back to his friends across the river？ 'Tis what I have done
in less dangers； and that I think of very little hazard； how broad soever
the river may be； provided your horse have easy going in； and that you
see on the other side easy landing according to the stream。 The other；
＇Balthazar Gerard。＇ when they pronounced his dreadful sentence；
〃I was prepared for this；〃 said he； 〃beforehand； and I will make you
wonder at my patience。〃
The Assassins； a nation bordering upon Phoenicia；
＇Or in Egypt； Syria； and Persia。 Derivation of 'assassin' is from
Hassan…ben…Saba； one of their early leaders； and they had an
existence for some centuries。 They are classed among the secret
societies of the Middle Ages。 D。W。＇
are reputed amongst the Mohammedans a people of very great devotion and
purity of manners。 They hold that the nearest way to gain Paradise is to
kill some one of a contrary religion； which is the reason they have often
been seen； being but one or two； and without armour； to attempt against
powerful enemies； at the price of a certain death and without any
consideration of their own danger。 So was our Raymond； Count of Tripoli；
assassinated （which word is derived from their name） in the heart of his
city； ＇in 1151＇ during our enterprises of the Holy War： and likewise
Conrad； Marquis of Monteferrat； the murderers at their execution bearing
themselves with great pride and glory that they had performed so brave an
exploit。
CHAPTER XXX。
OF A MONSTROUS CHILD
This story shall go by itself； for I will leave it to physicians to
discourse of。 Two day