"Whatever would become of us if poets had no shoulders!" was the brutal remark of the Bishop of Blois, M.de Caumartin.

But the customs of society did not admit a poet to the honor of obtaining satisfaction from whoever insulted him.

The great lords, friends of Voltaire, who had accustomed him to attention and flattery, abandoned him pitilessly in his quarrel with Chevalier de Rohan.

"Those blows were well gotten and ill given," said the Prince of Conti.

That was all the satisfaction Voltaire obtained.