The mountebank is wanted in the streets, the jester at the Louvre.

The one is called a Clown, the other a Fool.
The efforts of man to procure himself pleasure are at times worthy of the attention of the philosopher.
What are we sketching in these few preliminary pages?
A chapter in the most terrible of books; a book which might be entitled--_The farming of the unhappy by the happy_.
II.
A child destined to be a plaything for men--such a thing has existed; such a thing exists even now.

In simple and savage times such a thing constituted an especial trade.

The 17th century, called the great century, was of those times.

It was a century very Byzantine in tone.