If the whole truth were known, it would, doubtless, be found somewhere between the above extreme and contradictory views, and the cause of the caustic statements of Mesdames de Stael and du Deffand would probably be found to be quite accurately expressed in the first part of Voltaire's _Epistle on Calumny_, which was written about the beginning of his particular relationship with "the divine Emilie." The first lines of this epistle, as translated by Smollett, are: "Since beautiful, 'twill be your fate, Emelia, to incur much hate; Almost one-half of human race Will even curse you to your face; Possesst of genius, noblest fire, With fear you will each breast inspire; As you too easily confide, You'll often be betrayed, belied; You ne'er of virtue made parade, To hypocrites no court you've paid, Therefore, of Calumny beware, Foe to the virtuous and the fair." [143] In his work on _Comets_, Clairaut at first gave Mme. Lepaute full credit for her work which had been of such inestimable service to himself; but, in order to gratify a woman who, having pretensions without knowledge, was very jealous of the superior attainments of Mme. Lepaute, he had the weakness subsequently to suppress his generous tribute to merit. Commenting on this strange conduct of his assistant, Lalande expresses himself as follows: "We know that it is not rare to see ordinary women depreciate those who have knowledge, tax them with pedantry and contest their merit in order to avenge themselves upon them for their superiority. The latter are so few in number that the others have almost succeeded in making them conceal their acquirements." [144] _Bibliographie Astronomique_, pp. 676-687, par Jerome de la Lande, Paris, 1803. [145] _Memoirs and Correspondence of Caroline Herschel_, p. 144, by Mrs. John Herschel, London, 1879. [146] So sensitive was Miss Herschel in her old age regarding the reputation of her brother, William, who had always been her idol and the one in whom she had concentrated all her affection, that she came to look askance at every person and thing that seemed calculated to dull the glory of his achievements. Thus her niece, in writing to Sir John Herschel, after her death, declares: "She looked upon progress in science as so much detraction from her brother's fame; and, even your investigations would have become a source of estrangement had she been with you." In a letter to Sir John Herschel, written four years before her death, she exhibits, in an amusing fashion, her jealous spirit anent the great telescope of Lord Rosse. "They talk of nothing here at the clubs," she writes, "but of the great mirror and the great man who made it. I have but one answer for all--_Der Kerl ist ein Narr_--the fellow is a fool."