certainly as your eyes the day when it shines, I confess it."
"But", I cried, "is it not a dream to think that Monsieur Descartes,
whom you have not seen since you left the world of the Earth, is three
leagues from here, because you have imagined it?"
As I spoke the last syllable we saw Descartes arrive. Campanella at
once ran to embrace him. They talked together at length, but I could
not attend to their mutual expressions of regard, so much did I burn to
learn from Campanella the secret of his divination. That philosopher,
reading my passion upon my face, related the incident to his friend and
begged him to agree to his informing me. M. Descartes replied with a
smile and my learned preceptor discoursed to this effect:
"There are exhaled from all bodies elements, that is to say, corporeal
images which fly in the air. Now, in spite of their movement, these
images always preserve the shape, the colour and all the other
proportions of the object whereof they speak; but since they are very
subtle and very fine they pass through our organs without causing any
sensation there; they go straight to the soul, where they make an
impression, because its substance is so delicate, and thus they cause
it to see very distant things, which the senses cannot perceive; and
this is an ordinary occurrence here, where the mind is not involved in
a body formed of gross matter, as in your world. We will tell you how
this happens, when we have had leisure fully to satisfy the desire we
both have to converse together; for, assuredly, you fully deserve that
we should show you the greatest favour."[89]
[Footnote 89: This abrupt end indicates that the book is unfinished; I
cannot agree with those who think it intentional.]
[Illustration: _Gonsales' Voyage to the Moon_]
APPENDICES
1. EXTRACTS FROM GODWIN, D'URFEY AND SWIFT
2. BIBLIOGRAPHY
3. GENEALOGY
4. COAT OF ARMS
APPENDIX I
BISHOP GODWIN--TOM D'URFEY--SWIFT
To give full extracts from all the books copied by or copied
from Cyrano de Bergerac would make a volume. In the notes or the
introduction attention has already been called to Cyrano's greater or
less indebtedness to Lucian, Rabelais, Sorel, Gassendi, Descartes,
Rohault and other writers. His borrowing from Bishop Godwin's _Man in
the Moon_ is considerable. This pamphlet is included in the _Harleian
Miscellany_ (1810) vol. xi. The hero is a Spaniard, Domingo Gonsales,
who manufactures a flying machine, drawn by "gansas," or wild geese,
in which he is carried to the moon. There is a certain amount of
scientific disquisition upon gravity and a rebuke to those who reject
the Copernican system of astronomy; which corresponds with Cyrano's
talk with the governor of New France. Other points in common may be
tabulated:
1. Gonsales does not feel hungry on his voyage "on account of the
purity of the air".
2. He sees the earth turning beneath him.
3. Everything in the moon is larger than in the earth and the people
are "generally twice as high as ours"; they "live wonderful long", "a
thousand years".
4. They fan themselves rapidly through the air; the "attraction" of the
moon's earth is much less than ours.
5. A paragraph about sleep seems to have inspired Cyrano with his beds
of flowers and tickling attendants.
6. "Their language is very difficult, since it hath no affinity with
any other I ever heard, and consists not so much of words and letters,
as tunes and strange sounds, which no letters can express; for there
are few words but signify several things.... Yea, many words consist of
tunes only without words, by occasion whereof I find a language may be
framed, and easily learned, as copious as any other in the world, only
of tunes, which is an experiment worth searching after."
This pamphlet was published in England in 1638 and translated into
French in 1648.
Tom d'Urfey's _Wonders in the Sun or the Kingdom of the Birds_
(London, 1706) is obviously inspired by Cyrano's _Voyages_ (without
acknowledgment). There are characters taken from Cyrano: the main
situation is the trial before the court of birds and whole slices of
the prose dialogues are simply a translation. Characters are Domingo
Gonzales and Diego his man; the Daemon of Socrates; all with leading
parts; and King Dove. The other bird-characters are ingenious and Tom's
own. Here is an extract from Act I, scene 1:
_Daemon:_ Two thousand Years and upwards since the Death of that
Philosopher I've carefully Employ'd in Art's Improvement, I first in
_Thebes_ Taught wise _Epaminondas,_ then turning over to the _Roman_
side Espous'd the Party of the younger _Cato_.
_Gonzales:_ The world admir'd your fame, the Learned _Cardan_ still
doted on your Tenets.
_Daemon:_ He had reason. I Taught him many things. _Trithmethius_
too, _Cæzar_, _La Brosse_ and the occult _Agrippa_ were all my
Pupils, beside a new Cabal of Wise young Men, vulgarly called the
_Rosa-crucian_ Knights, those were, should I dilate their Virtues
fully, the very Keys of the locks of Nature.
_Gonzales_: _Gossendus_ too in France, and _Campanella_ were under your
instruction.
That is almost word for word from the _Moon._ In the same scene occurs
this:
_Gonzales:_ Well, and pray, Sir, your Philosophers, what must they feed
on?
_Daemon:_ Steams, luscious Fumes, rich edifying Smoak.
The next scene contains a translation of Cyrano's notion of the dignity
of walking on all fours. Acts II and III furnish other parallels; but
in Act IV, the trial scene is very closely imitated from Cyrano's
trial in the _History of the Birds_ in _The Sun_. The speech of the
prosecution is almost a word for word translation; the sentence is the
same and the prisoners are rescued by a parrot named "Cæzar"! (See _The
Sun_.)
It has long been recognised that _Gulliver's Travels_ owes quite as
much to Cyrano de Bergerac as to any other book. The resemblance is
rather one of general ideas, taken up and exploited by Swift, than of
parallel passages. One passage in the _Voyage to Lilliput_, chapter VI,
is taken directly from Cyrano:
"Their notions relating to the duties of parents and children differ
extremely from ours. For, since the conjunction of male and female
is founded upon the great law of Nature, in order to propagate and
continue the species, the Lilliputians will needs have it that men
and women are joined together, like other animals, by the motives of
concupiscence; and that their tenderness towards their young proceeds
from the like natural principle: for which reason they will never allow
that a child is under any obligation to his father for begetting him,
or to his mother for bringing him into the world, which, considering
the miseries of human life, was neither a benefit in itself, nor
intended so by his parents, whose thoughts in their love encounters
were otherwise employed. Upon these and the like reasoning, their
opinion is, that parents are the last of all others to be trusted
with the education of their own children: and therefore they have in
every town public nurseries, where all parents, except cottagers and
labourers, are obliged to send their infants of both sexes to be reared
and educated, when they come to the age of twenty moons, at which time
they are supposed to have some rudiments of docility." (See _The Moon._)
Chapter II of the Voyage to Brobdingnag has a strong likeness to those
parts of Cyrano's _Moon_ describing how he was showed by a mountebank.
The flashing swords in chapter VII, the king's desire to "propagate
the breed" in chapter VIII, even the adventure with the monkey, may
have been suggested by Cyrano. As to the "Houyhnhnms", the device of
satirising and shaming man by showing him to be inferior in virtues to
the very beasts is a favourite one of Cyrano. The scenes with the birds
and trees in the Sun and some of the philosophical conversations in the
Moon may be referred to for confirmation of this. There can be little
doubt that Swift read Cyrano de Bergerac closely and frequently built
upon what the French writer had done or took up and developed better
the hint of some idea. The unity of Swift's purpose, the even tone of
his prose, the strong air of common sense, the Defoe-like illusion of
reality, are all in sharp contrast with Cyrano's wandering fancies,
varying styles, extravagance and lack of common sense.
APPENDIX II
LIST OF EDITIONS
(A complete bibliography of Cyrano de Bergerac's works will be found
in M. Lachèvre's edition. This list will give only editions of the
Complete Works and of the _Estats et Empires de la Lune et du Soleil_,
but will add all the discoverable English translations of Cyrano's
work.)
_ŒUVRES COMPLÈTES_
_Les œuvres de Monsieur de Cyrano Bergerac. Première (et seconde)
partie._ A Paris, chez Charles de Sercy, au Palais, au Sixiesme Pilier
de la Grand' Salle, vis-à-vis la Montée de la Cour des Aydes, à la
Bonne-Foy couronnée. M.DC.LXXVI. in-12.
_Ditto._ Rouen, 1677. 2 Vol. in-12.
_Ditto._ Paris, Ch. Osmont, 1699. 2 Vol. in-12.
_Les œuvres diverses de monsieur de Cyrano Bergerac._ Tome premier
(et second). Enrichi de Figures en taille-douce. A Amsterdam, chez
Daniel Pain, Marchand Libraire sur le Woorburgwal, proche du Stilsteeg.
M.DC.XCIX.
_Ditto._ Rouen, J.-B. Besonge, 1710. 2 Vol. in-12.
_Ditto._ Amsterdam, Jacques Desbordes, M.DCC.X.
_Les Œuvres de Monsieur de Cyrano Bergerac_.... A Amsterdam, Jacques
Desbordes, M.DCC.IX.
_Ditto._ Nouvelle édition, Paris, 1709. 2 Vol. in-12.
_Les Œuvres Diverses de monsieur de Cyrano Bergerac._ Tomes premier
(second et troisième). A Amsterdam, chez Jacques Desbordes....
M.DCC.XII (1741 or 1761). in-8.
(Editions labelled Amsterdam actually printed at Rouen or perhaps
Trévoux.)
_ŒUVRES DIVERSES_ (containing the Voyages)
_Les Œuvres diverses de Monsieur de Cyrano Bergerac._ A Paris, chez
Antoine de Sommaville.... Paris, M.DC.LXI. in-12.
_Les Œuvres diverses de Monsieur de Cyrano Bergerac_.... A Paris. Chez
Charles de Sercy au Palais, dans la Salle Dauphine, à la Bonne-Foy.
M.DC.LXI.
_Ditto._ Lyon. Christophe Fourmy.... M.DC.LXIII. 2 Vol. in-12.
_Ditto._ Rouen, chez Antoine Ferrand. M.DC.LXIII. 2 Vol.
_Ditto._ Rouen, R. Sejourne, 1676, in-12.
_Ditto._ A Rouen, chez Jean B. Besonge.... 1678.
_L'AUTRE MONDE_
_Histoire Comique, par Monsieur de Cyrano Bergerac. Contenant les
Estats et Empires de la Lune._ A Paris, chez Charles de Sercy, au
Palais, dans la Salle Dauphine, à la Bonne-Foy couronnée. M.DC.LVII.
in-12.
_Ditto._ Paris. Sercy. M.DC.LIX. in-12.
_Histoire comique, par monsieur de Cyrano Bergerac. Contenant les
Estats et Empires de la Lune._ A Lyon, chez Christophe Fourmy, rue
Merciere, à l'enseigne de l'Occasion. M.DC.LXII. in-12.
_Ditto._ Lyon, 1672, in-12.
_Voyages imaginaires, songes, visions et romans cabalistiques._ Ornés
de figures. Tome Treizième. A Amsterdam et Paris. M.DCC.LXXXVII. in-8.
MODERN EDITIONS
_Œuvres de Cyrano de Bergerac, précédées d'une Notice par Le Blanc.
Voyage Comique dans les Estats et Empires de la Lune, Voyage Comique
dans les Estats et Empires du Soleil._ Paris. Victor Lecou, et
Toulouse, Librairie centrale, 1855, in-8.
_Histoire Comique des Estats et Empires de la Lune et du Soleil, par
Cyrano de Bergerac._ Nouvelle Edition revue et publiée avec des notes
et une Notice historique. Par P.L. (Paul Lacroix) Jacob, bibliophile.
Paris, Adolphe Delahays, 1858, in-8.
_Voyages Fantastiques de Cyrano Bergerac._ Publiés avec une
introduction et des Notes par Marc de Montifaud. Paris, Librairie des
Bibliophiles, 1875, in-8.
_Histoire Comique de la Lune et du Soleil._ Paris, Garnier, 1876, in-12.
_Histoire Comique, etc._ Expurgated edition, 1886.
_Cyrano de Bergerac. Voyage dans la Lune._ Paris, Ernest Flammarion. No
date, in-8.
_Cyrano de Bergerac, Œuvres Comiques, etc._ Paris, Librairie de la
Bibliothèque nationale, 1898.
_Collection des plus belles pages. Cyrano de Bergerac_.... Notice de
Remy de Gourmont. Paris, Société du Mercure de France, M.CM.VIII.
in-18. (A good and useful edition of very full selections.)
_De Cyrano Bergerac. L'Autre Monde, etc._ Illustrations de Robida.
Librairie Moderne. Maurice Bauche, éditeur.... Paris, M.CM.X. in-8.
(Contains a hybrid text, part from MSS. and part from ed. Lyon, 1663.)
_S. de Cyrano Bergerac. Histoire Comique, etc._ As above. M.CM.X.
_Les Œuvres Libertines de Cyrano de Bergerac, Parisien_ (1619-1655).
Précédées d'une notice Biographique par Frédéric Lachèvre. Paris.
Librairie Ancienne Honoré Champion. 2 Vols. 1921.
(Contains the whole of Cyrano's work, except a few of the letters; the
best text of the Voyages with MS. variations and notes; the notice is
very full and accompanied with many unpublished documents. The edition
is indispensable for any serious study of Cyrano de Bergerac. Its text
has been used throughout for this translation.)
ENGLISH TRANSLATIONS
_Satyrical Characters and handsome Descriptions, in Letters written
to several persons of quality._ Translated out of the French. London,
1658. (B.M.)
Σεληναρχία, _or, the Government of the World in the Moon. A
Comical history...._ Done into English by T. St. Serf. London, 1659.
(B.M.)
_The Comical History of the States and Empires of the Worlds of the
Moon and Sun_ ... newly Englished by A. Lovell. London, 1687. (B.M.)
_A Voyage to the Moon.... A Comical Romance._ Done from the French of
M. Cyrano de Bergerac. By Mr Derrick. London, 1754. (B.M.)
_Cyrano de Bergerac. The agreement. A Satyrical and facetious dream. To
which is annexed the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth._
By J. Friendly. London, 1756. (B.M.)
(A version of Cyrano's Letter: _Un Songe_)
An expurgated version of the Pédant Joué is recorded from Harvard in
1900. There is no copy at the British Museum.
APPENDIX III
GENEALOGICAL TABLE OF THE CYRANO FAMILY
(_From Brun, corrected from Lachèvre_)
SAVINIEN I DE CYRANO, bourgeois (?-1590) = ANNE I, LE MAIRE
|
+-------------------------+-------+-------------+----------------------+
| | | |
ABEL I DE CYRANO (1567-1648) ANNE II (_d._ 1652) PIERRE I (_m._ 1621) SAMUEL (_m._ 1616)
= ESPÉRANCE BELLENGER = JACQUES STOPAR = CHARLOTTE GENNE = MARIE DE SERQUEVILLÉ
| (_d. circa_ 1649) |
| +---+-------
| |
| PIERRE II (_d._ 1674)
| = MARIE DOUSSIN
| |
+----+------------+----------------+---------------+-----------+------------------------+ |
| | | | | | |
DENYS ANTOINE HONORÉ SAVINIEN ABEL II = MARIE MARCY CATHERINE |
(1614-_c._ 1639) (1616-_d. young_) (1617-_d. young_) the Author (1624-1686)| (?-1707) (? - ?) |
(1619-1655) | |
| +---------+---------+-------+--+
| | | |
| | JÉRÔME (1655-?). PAUL
+-----------------+-------------------+---------------------+ | = 1. SIMONNE LONDOIS (_b._ 1668)
| | | | = 2. MARIE CHERBOIS
CATHERINE MARIE-CATHERINE ABEL PIERRE | |
= J. P WLEUGELS (1659 _baptized_) (1656-_after_ 1707) | | | |
(_m._ 1699) MARIE ELIZABETH (1661-1738)
= JEAN CHOFFLER |
|
MARIE (_b._ 1728)
APPENDIX IV
Cyrano de Bergerac
La vraye et parfaite science des armoires, augmentée par P. Paillot,
Dijon et Paris, 1660, folio, gives a description of the arms of Cyrano
which (with apologies to heralds) I English as follows:
"Azure, a chevron or, two lion-skins or bound gules suspended in chief,
a lion with a tail saltire-wise or armed gules, with a chief gules."
In spite of this imposing shield the Cyrano family failed to establish
its claim to nobility at the visitations of 1668 and 1704. On the
former occasion Abel de Cyrano (brother of our author) was fined 300
_livres_ for claiming nobility unlawfully and on the latter occasion a
cousin, J. D. de Cyrano, was fined the large sum of 3000 _livres_ for
the same offence.
* * * * *
[Transcriber's Note: Some proper names are depicted as images
resembling musical notes. They are transcribed as [Image].]