192 LITERARY AND SCIENTIFIC MEN.

he did not lose the cheerfulness of his temper, normourn vainly over his disasters. In this situation, hewrote an epistle to his wife in the character of a Poleexiled to Siberia in 1768. In this are to be found acouplet since often quoted relative to political victims,_

“ Ils m’ont d it, ‘ Choisis d’etre o»ppresseur ou victime : ’J’embrassai le malheur, et leur laissai le crime.”

A couplet peculiarly applicable to him who would havebeen gladly received by the violent party, and had theway open to him to rule, instead of being sacrificed as avictim. He declares in this poem that the anticipationof a violent death did not alter the serenity of his soul,and speaks of the occupations that banished ennui fromhis solitary place of refuge.

hie was soon to lose this shelter: a newspaper fellinto his hands in which he read the decree that out-lawed him, and denounced the pain of death againstany one who should harbour one of the proscribed.He instantly resolved no longer to endanger his ge-nerous hostess, — she endeavoured to dissuade himfrom this fatal step, but in vain: he disguised himselfas a countryman, and passed the barriers without apassport. He directed his steps to Sceaux , where hehoped to find refuge in the house of a friend ; but hewas absent in Paris , nor expected back for three days,and Condorcet was obliged to hide in the neighbouringquarries. After several days spent miserably in thisspot, hunger forced him to enter the little inn ofChamont. The avidity with which he ate the foodplaced before him, and his squalid appearance, drew theattention of a member of the committee of public safetyof Sceaux , who happened to be present. He was askedfor his passport, and, not having one, was arrested andinterrogated. No ready he hung on the lips of theworshipper of truth, and his unsatisfactory answers, anda Horace found in his pocket with marginal notes inpencil, contributed to reveal his name. He was taken