In fact we perceive he has, besides the inner obstacles and
griefs, two classes of outward ones: There are Lions on his path
and also Dogs. Lions are the Ex-Bishop of Mirepoix, and certain
other dark Holy Fathers, or potent orthodox Official Persons.
These, though Voltaire does not yet declare his heterodoxy (which,
indeed, is but the orthodoxy of the cultivated private circles),
perceive well enough, even by the HENRIADE, and its talk of
'tolerance,' horror of 'fanaticism' and the like, what this one's
'DOXY is; and how dangerous he, not a mere mute man of quality,
but a talking spirit with winged words, may be;--and they much
annoy and terrify him, by their roaring in the distance.
Which roaring cannot, of course, convince; and since it is not
permitted to kill, can only provoke a talking spirit into still
deeper strains of heterodoxy for his own private behoof. These are
the Lions on his path: beasts conscious to themselves of good
intentions; but manifesting from Voltaire's point of view, it must
be owned, a physiognomy unlovely to a degree. (Light is superior
to darkness, I should think,' meditates Voltaire; 'power of
thought to the want of power! The ANE DE MIREPOIX (Ass of
Mirepoix), [Poor joke of Voltaire's, continually applied to this
Bishop, or Ex-Bishop,--who was thought, generally, a rather
tenebrific man for appointment to the FEUILLE DES BENEFICES
(charge of nominating Bishops, keeping King's conscience, &c.);
and who, in that capacity, signed himself ANC (by no means "ANE,"
but "ANCIEN, Whilom") DE MIREPOIX,--to the enragement of Voltaire
bften enough.] pretending to use me in this manner, is it other,
in the court of Rhadamanthus, than transcendent Stupidity, with
transcendent Insolence superadded?' Voltaire grows more and more
heterodox; and is ripening towards dangerous utterances, though
he, strives to hold in.