Au nom de Dieu, lisez-moi quelque somme De ces écrits don't chez lui l'on fait cas. Qu'est-il besoin qu'à present je les nomme? II en est tant qu'on ne les connoît pas. De leurs avis servez-vous pour compas; N'admettez qu'eux en votre librairie; Brûlez ARNAULD avec sa côterie, Près d'ESCOBAR ce ne sont qu'esprits lourds. Je vous le dis: ce n'est point raillerie, ESCOBAR sait un chemin de velours. ENVOI. Toi, que l'orgueil poussa dans la voirie, Qui tiens là-bas noire concièrgerie, Lucifer, chef des infernales cours, Pour éviter les traits de ta furie, ESCOBAR sait un chemin de velours. [5] _Corneille Jansenius_,--the originator of the sect called Jansenists. Though he was bishop of Ypres, his chief work, "Augustinus," and his doctrines generally, were condemned by Popes Urban VIII. and Innocent X., as heretical (1641 and 1653).--Ed. [6] _Arnauld_.--This was Antoine Arnauld, doctor of the Sorbonne, and one of the Arnaulds famous among the Port Royalists, who were Jansenists in opposition to the Jesuits. He was born in 1612, and died a voluntary exile in Belgium, 1694. Boileau wrote his epitaph.--Ed. [7] _Escobar_.--A Spanish Jesuit, who flourished mostly in France, and wrote against the Jansenists. Pascal, as well as La Fontaine, ridiculed his convenient principles of morality, he "chemin de velours," as La Fontaine puts it. His chief work in moral theology was published in seven vols., folio, at Lyons, 1652-1663. He died in 1669.--Ed. Thus does the _Bon-homme_ treat the subtle Escobar, the prince and prototype of the moralists of _expediency_. To translate his artless and delicate irony is hardly possible. The writer of this hasty Preface offers the following only as an attempted imitation:-- BALLAD UPON ESCOBAR. Good cause has Rome to reprobate The bishop who disputes her so; His followers reject and hate All pleasures that we taste below. To heaven an easy pace may go, Whatever crazy ARNAULD saith, Who aims at pleasure causeless wrath. Seek we the better world afar? We're fools to choose the rugged path: A velvet road hath ESCOBAR. Although he does not say you can, Should one with you for nothing strive, Or for a trifle, kill the man-- You can for ducats four or five. Indeed, if circumstances drive, Defraud, or take false oaths you may, Or to the charms of life give way, When Love must needs the door unbar. Henceforth must not the pilgrim say, A velvet road hath ESCOBAR? Now, would to God that one would state The pith of all his works to me. What boots it to enumerate? As well attempt to drain the sea!-- Your chart and compass let them be; All other books put under ban; Burn ARNAULD and his rigid clan-- They're blockheads if we but compare;-- It is no joke,--I tell you, man, A velvet road hath ESCOBAR. ADDRESS.