pnadel/three_musketeers_sents · Datasets at Hugging Face

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AUTHOR’S PREFACE	In which it is proved that, notwithstanding their names’ ending in os and is, the heroes of the story which we are about to have the honor to relate to our readers have nothing mythological about them.	0
AUTHOR’S PREFACE	A short time ago, while making researches in the Royal Library for my History of Louis XIV., I stumbled by chance upon the Memoirs of M. d’Artagnan, printed—as were most of the works of that period, in which authors could not tell the truth without the risk of a residence, more or less long, in the Bastille—at Amsterdam, by Pierre Rouge.	0
AUTHOR’S PREFACE	The title attracted me; I took them home with me, with the permission of the guardian, and devoured them.	0
AUTHOR’S PREFACE	It is not my intention here to enter into an analysis of this curious work; and I shall satisfy myself with referring such of my readers as appreciate the pictures of the period to its pages.	0
AUTHOR’S PREFACE	They will therein find portraits penciled by the hand of a master; and although these squibs may be, for the most part, traced upon the doors of barracks and the walls of cabarets, they will not find the likenesses of Louis XIII., Anne of Austria, Richelieu, Mazarin, and the courtiers of the period, less faithful than in the history of M. Anquetil.	0
AUTHOR’S PREFACE	But, it is well known, what strikes the capricious mind of the poet is not always what affects the mass of readers.	0
AUTHOR’S PREFACE	Now, while admiring, as others doubtless will admire, the details we have to relate, our main preoccupation concerned a matter to which no one before ourselves had given a thought.	0
AUTHOR’S PREFACE	D’Artagnan relates that on his first visit to M. de Tréville, captain of the king’s Musketeers, he met in the antechamber three young men, serving in the illustrious corps into which he was soliciting the honor of being received, bearing the names of Athos, Porthos, and Aramis.	0
AUTHOR’S PREFACE	We must confess these three strange names struck us; and it immediately occurred to us that they were but pseudonyms, under which D’Artagnan had disguised names perhaps illustrious, or else that the bearers of these borrowed names had themselves chosen them on the day in which, from caprice, discontent, or want of fortune, they had donned the simple Musketeer’s uniform.	0
AUTHOR’S PREFACE	From that moment we had no rest till we could find some trace in contemporary works of these extraordinary names which had so strongly awakened our curiosity.	0
AUTHOR’S PREFACE	The catalogue alone of the books we read with this object would fill a whole chapter, which, although it might be very instructive, would certainly afford our readers but little amusement.	0
AUTHOR’S PREFACE	It will suffice, then, to tell them that at the moment at which, discouraged by so many fruitless investigations, we were about to abandon our search, we at length found, guided by the counsels of our illustrious friend Paulin Paris, a manuscript in folio, endorsed 4772 or 4773, we do not recollect which, having for title, “Memoirs of the Comte de la Fère, Touching Some Events Which Passed in France Toward the End of the Reign of King Louis XIII.	0
AUTHOR’S PREFACE	and the Commencement of the Reign of King Louis XIV.” It may be easily imagined how great was our joy when, in turning over this manuscript, our last hope, we found at the twentieth page the name of Athos, at the twenty-seventh the name of Porthos, and at the thirty-first the name of Aramis.	0
AUTHOR’S PREFACE	The discovery of a completely unknown manuscript at a period in which historical science is carried to such a high degree appeared almost miraculous.	0
AUTHOR’S PREFACE	We hastened, therefore, to obtain permission to print it, with the view of presenting ourselves someday with the pack of others at the doors of the Académie des Inscriptions et Belles Lettres, if we should not succeed—a very probable thing, by the by—in gaining admission to the Académie Française with our own proper pack.	0
AUTHOR’S PREFACE	This permission, we feel bound to say, was graciously granted; which compels us here to give a public contradiction to the slanderers who pretend that we live under a government but moderately indulgent to men of letters.	0
AUTHOR’S PREFACE	Now, this is the first part of this precious manuscript which we offer to our readers, restoring it to the title which belongs to it, and entering into an engagement that if (of which we have no doubt) this first part should obtain the success it merits, we will publish the second immediately.	0
AUTHOR’S PREFACE	In the meanwhile, as the godfather is a second father, we beg the reader to lay to our account, and not to that of the Comte de la Fère, the pleasure or the ennui he may experience.	0
AUTHOR’S PREFACE	This being understood, let us proceed with our history.	0
Chapter I. THE THREE PRESENTS OF D’ARTAGNAN THE ELDER	On the first Monday of the month of April, 1625, the market town of Meung, in which the author of Romance of the Rose was born, appeared to be in as perfect a state of revolution as if the Huguenots had just made a second La Rochelle of it.	1
Chapter I. THE THREE PRESENTS OF D’ARTAGNAN THE ELDER	Many citizens, seeing the women flying toward the High Street, leaving their children crying at the open doors, hastened to don the cuirass, and supporting their somewhat uncertain courage with a musket or a partisan, directed their steps toward the hostelry of the Jolly Miller, before which was gathered, increasing every minute, a compact group, vociferous and full of curiosity.	1
Chapter I. THE THREE PRESENTS OF D’ARTAGNAN THE ELDER	In those times panics were common, and few days passed without some city or other registering in its archives an event of this kind.	1
Chapter I. THE THREE PRESENTS OF D’ARTAGNAN THE ELDER	There were nobles, who made war against each other; there was the king, who made war against the cardinal; there was Spain, which made war against the king.	1
Chapter I. THE THREE PRESENTS OF D’ARTAGNAN THE ELDER	Then, in addition to these concealed or public, secret or open wars, there were robbers, mendicants, Huguenots, wolves, and scoundrels, who made war upon everybody.	1
Chapter I. THE THREE PRESENTS OF D’ARTAGNAN THE ELDER	The citizens always took up arms readily against thieves, wolves or scoundrels, often against nobles or Huguenots, sometimes against the king, but never against the cardinal or Spain.	1
Chapter I. THE THREE PRESENTS OF D’ARTAGNAN THE ELDER	It resulted, then, from this habit that on the said first Monday of April, 1625, the citizens, on hearing the clamor, and seeing neither the red-and-yellow standard nor the livery of the Duc de Richelieu, rushed toward the hostel of the Jolly Miller.	1
Chapter I. THE THREE PRESENTS OF D’ARTAGNAN THE ELDER	When arrived there, the cause of the hubbub was apparent to all.	1
Chapter I. THE THREE PRESENTS OF D’ARTAGNAN THE ELDER	A young man—we can sketch his portrait at a dash.	1
Chapter I. THE THREE PRESENTS OF D’ARTAGNAN THE ELDER	Imagine to yourself a Don Quixote of eighteen; a Don Quixote without his corselet, without his coat of mail, without his cuisses; a Don Quixote clothed in a woolen doublet, the blue color of which had faded into a nameless shade between lees of wine and a heavenly azure; face long and brown; high cheek bones, a sign of sagacity; the maxillary muscles enormously developed, an infallible sign by which a Gascon may always be detected, even without his cap—and our young man wore a cap set off with a sort of feather; the eye open and intelligent; the nose hooked, but finely chiseled.	1
Chapter I. THE THREE PRESENTS OF D’ARTAGNAN THE ELDER	Too big for a youth, too small for a grown man, an experienced eye might have taken him for a farmer’s son upon a journey had it not been for the long sword which, dangling from a leather baldric, hit against the calves of its owner as he walked, and against the rough side of his steed when he was on horseback.	1
Chapter I. THE THREE PRESENTS OF D’ARTAGNAN THE ELDER	For our young man had a steed which was the observed of all observers.	1
Chapter I. THE THREE PRESENTS OF D’ARTAGNAN THE ELDER	It was a Béarn pony, from twelve to fourteen years old, yellow in his hide, without a hair in his tail, but not without windgalls on his legs, which, though going with his head lower than his knees, rendering a martingale quite unnecessary, contrived nevertheless to perform his eight leagues a day.	1
Chapter I. THE THREE PRESENTS OF D’ARTAGNAN THE ELDER	Unfortunately, the qualities of this horse were so well concealed under his strange-colored hide and his unaccountable gait, that at a time when everybody was a connoisseur in horseflesh, the appearance of the aforesaid pony at Meung—which place he had entered about a quarter of an hour before, by the gate of Beaugency—produced an unfavorable feeling, which extended to his rider.	1
Chapter I. THE THREE PRESENTS OF D’ARTAGNAN THE ELDER	And this feeling had been more painfully perceived by young D’Artagnan—for so was the Don Quixote of this second Rosinante named—from his not being able to conceal from himself the ridiculous appearance that such a steed gave him, good horseman as he was.	1
Chapter I. THE THREE PRESENTS OF D’ARTAGNAN THE ELDER	He had sighed deeply, therefore, when accepting the gift of the pony from M. d’Artagnan the elder.	1
Chapter I. THE THREE PRESENTS OF D’ARTAGNAN THE ELDER	He was not ignorant that such a beast was worth at least twenty livres; and the words which had accompanied the present were above all price.	1
Chapter I. THE THREE PRESENTS OF D’ARTAGNAN THE ELDER	“My son,” said the old Gascon gentleman, in that pure Béarn patois of which Henry IV.	1
Chapter I. THE THREE PRESENTS OF D’ARTAGNAN THE ELDER	could never rid himself, “this horse was born in the house of your father about thirteen years ago, and has remained in it ever since, which ought to make you love it.	1
Chapter I. THE THREE PRESENTS OF D’ARTAGNAN THE ELDER	Never sell it; allow it to die tranquilly and honorably of old age, and if you make a campaign with it, take as much care of it as you would of an old servant.	1
Chapter I. THE THREE PRESENTS OF D’ARTAGNAN THE ELDER	At court, provided you have ever the honor to go there,” continued M. d’Artagnan the elder, “—an honor to which, remember, your ancient nobility gives you the right—sustain worthily your name of gentleman, which has been worthily borne by your ancestors for five hundred years, both for your own sake and the sake of those who belong to you.	1
Chapter I. THE THREE PRESENTS OF D’ARTAGNAN THE ELDER	By the latter I mean your relatives and friends.	1
Chapter I. THE THREE PRESENTS OF D’ARTAGNAN THE ELDER	Endure nothing from anyone except Monsieur the Cardinal and the king.	1
Chapter I. THE THREE PRESENTS OF D’ARTAGNAN THE ELDER	It is by his courage, please observe, by his courage alone, that a gentleman can make his way nowadays.	1
Chapter I. THE THREE PRESENTS OF D’ARTAGNAN THE ELDER	Whoever hesitates for a second perhaps allows the bait to escape which during that exact second fortune held out to him.	1
Chapter I. THE THREE PRESENTS OF D’ARTAGNAN THE ELDER	You are young.	1
Chapter I. THE THREE PRESENTS OF D’ARTAGNAN THE ELDER	You ought to be brave for two reasons: the first is that you are a Gascon, and the second is that you are my son.	1
Chapter I. THE THREE PRESENTS OF D’ARTAGNAN THE ELDER	Never fear quarrels, but seek adventures.	1
Chapter I. THE THREE PRESENTS OF D’ARTAGNAN THE ELDER	I have taught you how to handle a sword; you have thews of iron, a wrist of steel.	1
Chapter I. THE THREE PRESENTS OF D’ARTAGNAN THE ELDER	Fight on all occasions.	1
Chapter I. THE THREE PRESENTS OF D’ARTAGNAN THE ELDER	Fight the more for duels being forbidden, since consequently there is twice as much courage in fighting.	1
Chapter I. THE THREE PRESENTS OF D’ARTAGNAN THE ELDER	I have nothing to give you, my son, but fifteen crowns, my horse, and the counsels you have just heard.	1
Chapter I. THE THREE PRESENTS OF D’ARTAGNAN THE ELDER	Your mother will add to them a recipe for a certain balsam, which she had from a Bohemian and which has the miraculous virtue of curing all wounds that do not reach the heart.	1
Chapter I. THE THREE PRESENTS OF D’ARTAGNAN THE ELDER	Take advantage of all, and live happily and long.	1
Chapter I. THE THREE PRESENTS OF D’ARTAGNAN THE ELDER	I have but one word to add, and that is to propose an example to you—not mine, for I myself have never appeared at court, and have only taken part in religious wars as a volunteer; I speak of Monsieur de Tréville, who was formerly my neighbor, and who had the honor to be, as a child, the play-fellow of our king, Louis XIII., whom God preserve!	1
Chapter I. THE THREE PRESENTS OF D’ARTAGNAN THE ELDER	Sometimes their play degenerated into battles, and in these battles the king was not always the stronger.	1
Chapter I. THE THREE PRESENTS OF D’ARTAGNAN THE ELDER	The blows which he received increased greatly his esteem and friendship for Monsieur de Tréville.	1
Chapter I. THE THREE PRESENTS OF D’ARTAGNAN THE ELDER	Afterward, Monsieur de Tréville fought with others: in his first journey to Paris, five times; from the death of the late king till the young one came of age, without reckoning wars and sieges, seven times; and from that date up to the present day, a hundred times, perhaps!	1
Chapter I. THE THREE PRESENTS OF D’ARTAGNAN THE ELDER	So that in spite of edicts, ordinances, and decrees, there he is, captain of the Musketeers; that is to say, chief of a legion of Cæsars, whom the king holds in great esteem and whom the cardinal dreads—he who dreads nothing, as it is said.	1
Chapter I. THE THREE PRESENTS OF D’ARTAGNAN THE ELDER	Still further, Monsieur de Tréville gains ten thousand crowns a year; he is therefore a great noble.	1
Chapter I. THE THREE PRESENTS OF D’ARTAGNAN THE ELDER	He began as you begin.	1
Chapter I. THE THREE PRESENTS OF D’ARTAGNAN THE ELDER	Go to him with this letter, and make him your model in order that you may do as he has done.” Upon which M. d’Artagnan the elder girded his own sword round his son, kissed him tenderly on both cheeks, and gave him his benediction.	1
Chapter I. THE THREE PRESENTS OF D’ARTAGNAN THE ELDER	On leaving the paternal chamber, the young man found his mother, who was waiting for him with the famous recipe of which the counsels we have just repeated would necessitate frequent employment.	1
Chapter I. THE THREE PRESENTS OF D’ARTAGNAN THE ELDER	The adieux were on this side longer and more tender than they had been on the other—not that M. d’Artagnan did not love his son, who was his only offspring, but M. d’Artagnan was a man, and he would have considered it unworthy of a man to give way to his feelings; whereas Mme.	1
Chapter I. THE THREE PRESENTS OF D’ARTAGNAN THE ELDER	D’Artagnan was a woman, and still more, a mother.	1
Chapter I. THE THREE PRESENTS OF D’ARTAGNAN THE ELDER	She wept abundantly; and—let us speak it to the praise of M. d’Artagnan the younger—notwithstanding the efforts he made to remain firm, as a future Musketeer ought, nature prevailed, and he shed many tears, of which he succeeded with great difficulty in concealing the half.	1
Chapter I. THE THREE PRESENTS OF D’ARTAGNAN THE ELDER	The same day the young man set forward on his journey, furnished with the three paternal gifts, which consisted, as we have said, of fifteen crowns, the horse, and the letter for M. de Tréville—the counsels being thrown into the bargain.	1
Chapter I. THE THREE PRESENTS OF D’ARTAGNAN THE ELDER	With such a vade mecum D’Artagnan was morally and physically an exact copy of the hero of Cervantes, to whom we so happily compared him when our duty of an historian placed us under the necessity of sketching his portrait.	1
Chapter I. THE THREE PRESENTS OF D’ARTAGNAN THE ELDER	Don Quixote took windmills for giants, and sheep for armies; D’Artagnan took every smile for an insult, and every look as a provocation—whence it resulted that from Tarbes to Meung his fist was constantly doubled, or his hand on the hilt of his sword; and yet the fist did not descend upon any jaw, nor did the sword issue from its scabbard.	1
Chapter I. THE THREE PRESENTS OF D’ARTAGNAN THE ELDER	It was not that the sight of the wretched pony did not excite numerous smiles on the countenances of passers-by; but as against the side of this pony rattled a sword of respectable length, and as over this sword gleamed an eye rather ferocious than haughty, these passers-by repressed their hilarity, or if hilarity prevailed over prudence, they endeavored to laugh only on one side, like the masks of the ancients.	1
Chapter I. THE THREE PRESENTS OF D’ARTAGNAN THE ELDER	D’Artagnan, then, remained majestic and intact in his susceptibility, till he came to this unlucky city of Meung.	1
Chapter I. THE THREE PRESENTS OF D’ARTAGNAN THE ELDER	But there, as he was alighting from his horse at the gate of the Jolly Miller, without anyone—host, waiter, or hostler—coming to hold his stirrup or take his horse, D’Artagnan spied, though an open window on the ground floor, a gentleman, well-made and of good carriage, although of rather a stern countenance, talking with two persons who appeared to listen to him with respect.	1
Chapter I. THE THREE PRESENTS OF D’ARTAGNAN THE ELDER	D’Artagnan fancied quite naturally, according to his custom, that he must be the object of their conversation, and listened.	1
Chapter I. THE THREE PRESENTS OF D’ARTAGNAN THE ELDER	This time D’Artagnan was only in part mistaken; he himself was not in question, but his horse was.	1
Chapter I. THE THREE PRESENTS OF D’ARTAGNAN THE ELDER	The gentleman appeared to be enumerating all his qualities to his auditors; and, as I have said, the auditors seeming to have great deference for the narrator, they every moment burst into fits of laughter.	1
Chapter I. THE THREE PRESENTS OF D’ARTAGNAN THE ELDER	Now, as a half-smile was sufficient to awaken the irascibility of the young man, the effect produced upon him by this vociferous mirth may be easily imagined.	1
Chapter I. THE THREE PRESENTS OF D’ARTAGNAN THE ELDER	Nevertheless, D’Artagnan was desirous of examining the appearance of this impertinent personage who ridiculed him.	1
Chapter I. THE THREE PRESENTS OF D’ARTAGNAN THE ELDER	He fixed his haughty eye upon the stranger, and perceived a man of from forty to forty-five years of age, with black and piercing eyes, pale complexion, a strongly marked nose, and a black and well-shaped mustache.	1
Chapter I. THE THREE PRESENTS OF D’ARTAGNAN THE ELDER	He was dressed in a doublet and hose of a violet color, with aiguillettes of the same color, without any other ornaments than the customary slashes, through which the shirt appeared.	1
Chapter I. THE THREE PRESENTS OF D’ARTAGNAN THE ELDER	This doublet and hose, though new, were creased, like traveling clothes for a long time packed in a portmanteau.	1
Chapter I. THE THREE PRESENTS OF D’ARTAGNAN THE ELDER	D’Artagnan made all these remarks with the rapidity of a most minute observer, and doubtless from an instinctive feeling that this stranger was destined to have a great influence over his future life.	1
Chapter I. THE THREE PRESENTS OF D’ARTAGNAN THE ELDER	Now, as at the moment in which D’Artagnan fixed his eyes upon the gentleman in the violet doublet, the gentleman made one of his most knowing and profound remarks respecting the Béarnese pony, his two auditors laughed even louder than before, and he himself, though contrary to his custom, allowed a pale smile (if I may be allowed to use such an expression) to stray over his countenance.	1
Chapter I. THE THREE PRESENTS OF D’ARTAGNAN THE ELDER	This time there could be no doubt; D’Artagnan was really insulted.	1
Chapter I. THE THREE PRESENTS OF D’ARTAGNAN THE ELDER	Full, then, of this conviction, he pulled his cap down over his eyes, and endeavoring to copy some of the court airs he had picked up in Gascony among young traveling nobles, he advanced with one hand on the hilt of his sword and the other resting on his hip.	1
Chapter I. THE THREE PRESENTS OF D’ARTAGNAN THE ELDER	Unfortunately, as he advanced, his anger increased at every step; and instead of the proper and lofty speech he had prepared as a prelude to his challenge, he found nothing at the tip of his tongue but a gross personality, which he accompanied with a furious gesture.	1
Chapter I. THE THREE PRESENTS OF D’ARTAGNAN THE ELDER	“I say, sir, you sir, who are hiding yourself behind that shutter—yes, you, sir, tell me what you are laughing at, and we will laugh together!” The gentleman raised his eyes slowly from the nag to his cavalier, as if he required some time to ascertain whether it could be to him that such strange reproaches were addressed; then, when he could not possibly entertain any doubt of the matter, his eyebrows slightly bent, and with an accent of irony and insolence impossible to be described, he replied to D’Artagnan, “I was not speaking to you, sir.” “But I am speaking to you!” replied the young man, additionally exasperated with this mixture of insolence and good manners, of politeness and scorn.	1
Chapter I. THE THREE PRESENTS OF D’ARTAGNAN THE ELDER	The stranger looked at him again with a slight smile, and retiring from the window, came out of the hostelry with a slow step, and placed himself before the horse, within two paces of D’Artagnan.	1
Chapter I. THE THREE PRESENTS OF D’ARTAGNAN THE ELDER	His quiet manner and the ironical expression of his countenance redoubled the mirth of the persons with whom he had been talking, and who still remained at the window.	1
Chapter I. THE THREE PRESENTS OF D’ARTAGNAN THE ELDER	D’Artagnan, seeing him approach, drew his sword a foot out of the scabbard.	1
Chapter I. THE THREE PRESENTS OF D’ARTAGNAN THE ELDER	“This horse is decidedly, or rather has been in his youth, a buttercup,” resumed the stranger, continuing the remarks he had begun, and addressing himself to his auditors at the window, without paying the least attention to the exasperation of D’Artagnan, who, however, placed himself between him and them.	1
Chapter I. THE THREE PRESENTS OF D’ARTAGNAN THE ELDER	“It is a color very well known in botany, but till the present time very rare among horses.” “There are people who laugh at the horse that would not dare to laugh at the master,” cried the young emulator of the furious Tréville.	1
Chapter I. THE THREE PRESENTS OF D’ARTAGNAN THE ELDER	“I do not often laugh, sir,” replied the stranger, “as you may perceive by the expression of my countenance; but nevertheless I retain the privilege of laughing when I please.” “And I,” cried D’Artagnan, “will allow no man to laugh when it displeases me!” “Indeed, sir,” continued the stranger, more calm than ever; “well, that is perfectly right!” and turning on his heel, was about to re-enter the hostelry by the front gate, beneath which D’Artagnan on arriving had observed a saddled horse.	1
Chapter I. THE THREE PRESENTS OF D’ARTAGNAN THE ELDER	But, D’Artagnan was not of a character to allow a man to escape him thus who had the insolence to ridicule him.	1
Chapter I. THE THREE PRESENTS OF D’ARTAGNAN THE ELDER	He drew his sword entirely from the scabbard, and followed him, crying, “Turn, turn, Master Joker, lest I strike you behind!” “Strike me!” said the other, turning on his heels, and surveying the young man with as much astonishment as contempt.	1
Chapter I. THE THREE PRESENTS OF D’ARTAGNAN THE ELDER	“Why, my good fellow, you must be mad!” Then, in a suppressed tone, as if speaking to himself, “This is annoying,” continued he.	1
Chapter I. THE THREE PRESENTS OF D’ARTAGNAN THE ELDER	“What a godsend this would be for his Majesty, who is seeking everywhere for brave fellows to recruit for his Musketeers!” He had scarcely finished, when D’Artagnan made such a furious lunge at him that if he had not sprung nimbly backward, it is probable he would have jested for the last time.	1
Chapter I. THE THREE PRESENTS OF D’ARTAGNAN THE ELDER	The stranger, then perceiving that the matter went beyond raillery, drew his sword, saluted his adversary, and seriously placed himself on guard.	1
Chapter I. THE THREE PRESENTS OF D’ARTAGNAN THE ELDER	But at the same moment, his two auditors, accompanied by the host, fell upon D’Artagnan with sticks, shovels and tongs.	1
Chapter I. THE THREE PRESENTS OF D’ARTAGNAN THE ELDER	This caused so rapid and complete a diversion from the attack that D’Artagnan’s adversary, while the latter turned round to face this shower of blows, sheathed his sword with the same precision, and instead of an actor, which he had nearly been, became a spectator of the fight—a part in which he acquitted himself with his usual impassiveness, muttering, nevertheless, “A plague upon these Gascons!	1
Chapter I. THE THREE PRESENTS OF D’ARTAGNAN THE ELDER	Replace him on his orange horse, and let him begone!” “Not before I have killed you, poltroon!” cried D’Artagnan, making the best face possible, and never retreating one step before his three assailants, who continued to shower blows upon him.	1
Chapter I. THE THREE PRESENTS OF D’ARTAGNAN THE ELDER	“Another gasconade!” murmured the gentleman.	1

AUTHOR’S PREFACE

In which it is proved that, notwithstanding their names’ ending in os and is, the heroes of the story which we are about to have the honor to relate to our readers have nothing mythological about them.

0

AUTHOR’S PREFACE

A short time ago, while making researches in the Royal Library for my History of Louis XIV., I stumbled by chance upon the Memoirs of M. d’Artagnan, printed—as were most of the works of that period, in which authors could not tell the truth without the risk of a residence, more or less long, in the Bastille—at Amsterdam, by Pierre Rouge.

0

AUTHOR’S PREFACE

The title attracted me; I took them home with me, with the permission of the guardian, and devoured them.

0

AUTHOR’S PREFACE

It is not my intention here to enter into an analysis of this curious work; and I shall satisfy myself with referring such of my readers as appreciate the pictures of the period to its pages.

0

AUTHOR’S PREFACE

They will therein find portraits penciled by the hand of a master; and although these squibs may be, for the most part, traced upon the doors of barracks and the walls of cabarets, they will not find the likenesses of Louis XIII., Anne of Austria, Richelieu, Mazarin, and the courtiers of the period, less faithful than in the history of M. Anquetil.

0

AUTHOR’S PREFACE

But, it is well known, what strikes the capricious mind of the poet is not always what affects the mass of readers.

0

AUTHOR’S PREFACE

Now, while admiring, as others doubtless will admire, the details we have to relate, our main preoccupation concerned a matter to which no one before ourselves had given a thought.

0

AUTHOR’S PREFACE

D’Artagnan relates that on his first visit to M. de Tréville, captain of the king’s Musketeers, he met in the antechamber three young men, serving in the illustrious corps into which he was soliciting the honor of being received, bearing the names of Athos, Porthos, and Aramis.

0

AUTHOR’S PREFACE

We must confess these three strange names struck us; and it immediately occurred to us that they were but pseudonyms, under which D’Artagnan had disguised names perhaps illustrious, or else that the bearers of these borrowed names had themselves chosen them on the day in which, from caprice, discontent, or want of fortune, they had donned the simple Musketeer’s uniform.

0

AUTHOR’S PREFACE

From that moment we had no rest till we could find some trace in contemporary works of these extraordinary names which had so strongly awakened our curiosity.

0

AUTHOR’S PREFACE

The catalogue alone of the books we read with this object would fill a whole chapter, which, although it might be very instructive, would certainly afford our readers but little amusement.

0

AUTHOR’S PREFACE

It will suffice, then, to tell them that at the moment at which, discouraged by so many fruitless investigations, we were about to abandon our search, we at length found, guided by the counsels of our illustrious friend Paulin Paris, a manuscript in folio, endorsed 4772 or 4773, we do not recollect which, having for title, “Memoirs of the Comte de la Fère, Touching Some Events Which Passed in France Toward the End of the Reign of King Louis XIII.

0

AUTHOR’S PREFACE

and the Commencement of the Reign of King Louis XIV.” It may be easily imagined how great was our joy when, in turning over this manuscript, our last hope, we found at the twentieth page the name of Athos, at the twenty-seventh the name of Porthos, and at the thirty-first the name of Aramis.

0

AUTHOR’S PREFACE

The discovery of a completely unknown manuscript at a period in which historical science is carried to such a high degree appeared almost miraculous.

0

AUTHOR’S PREFACE

We hastened, therefore, to obtain permission to print it, with the view of presenting ourselves someday with the pack of others at the doors of the Académie des Inscriptions et Belles Lettres, if we should not succeed—a very probable thing, by the by—in gaining admission to the Académie Française with our own proper pack.

0

AUTHOR’S PREFACE

This permission, we feel bound to say, was graciously granted; which compels us here to give a public contradiction to the slanderers who pretend that we live under a government but moderately indulgent to men of letters.

0

AUTHOR’S PREFACE

Now, this is the first part of this precious manuscript which we offer to our readers, restoring it to the title which belongs to it, and entering into an engagement that if (of which we have no doubt) this first part should obtain the success it merits, we will publish the second immediately.

0

AUTHOR’S PREFACE

In the meanwhile, as the godfather is a second father, we beg the reader to lay to our account, and not to that of the Comte de la Fère, the pleasure or the ennui he may experience.

0

AUTHOR’S PREFACE

This being understood, let us proceed with our history.

0