TO THE QUEEN

Il is the Fate of Henri the Fourt to be protected by an English Que en. Me was assistée! by that great Elisabeth , who was in lier âge the Glovy of her S ex. By whom can his Memory be so well protected , as by her wko resembles so tnuch Elizabeth in her per sonnai Virtues,

Your Ma] est y wilfind in this Booh 3 bold impartial Truths , Morality unsta'med svdh Superstition , a Spirit of liber ty , equally abhorrent of rébellion and of Tyranny , the

PRÉFACE. xxiij

Rights of Kings always asscrted, and those of Mankmd never laid aside.

The same Spirit , in wkich it is written , gave me the confidence to offer it to the viriuous Consort of a King , who among so many crowned Heads enjoys , ahnost alone s the inestimable honour of riding afree nation y a King who makes his power connst in being beloved,a\id his Glory in being just,

Our Descartes , who was the greatest philosopher in Europe , before Sir Isaac JSewton appeared , dedicated his principles to the celebrated Princess Palatine Elizabeth : not , said he , because she was a Princess ; for true Philosopher s respect Princes , and never {flatter thern ; but because of ail his readers she understood him the best , and loved Truth the most.

Ibeg Le ave. Madam , (without comparing miseld to Descartes) to dedicaie the Henriade to y our Majesty, upon the like account s not only as the Protectress of ail Arts and Sciences , but as the best Judge ofthem.

Iham with that profound respect , which is due to the greatest Virtue , as wel as to the highest ranh ,

May it please Your Majesty ,

Y O U 11 MAJESTTS,

Most humble , most dutiful , most oblige. i servant , Voltaire.

~— -- --.,- ,,.--,,1, m m I ■ ■ I I II I | ., !

M. l'Abbé Lenglet di^Fresnoy nous en a donné ta traduction suivante,

xxiv r R E F A C E.