‘Mohammed or Allah, ’tis of little moment which. But I would fain learn something of Descartes’ philosophy,’ said Madeleine wearily.
‘Well,’ began Jacques, delighted to hold forth, ‘’Tis comprised in the axiom, cogito, ergo sum—I think, therefore I am—whence he deduces....’
‘Yes, but is it not he who holds that by due exercise of the will one can compass what one chooses?’ broke in Madeleine, to the evident delight of Monsieur Troqueville, for he shot a triumphant glance at Jacques which seemed to say, ‘she had you there!’
Jacques gave her a strange little look. ‘I fear not,’ he answered dryly; ‘the Will is not the bountiful beneficent Venus of the Sapphic Ode.’ Madeleine’s face fell.
‘’Tis the opinion he holds with regard to the power exercised by the will over the passions that you had in mind,’ he went on. ‘He holds the will to be the passions’ lawful king, and though at times ’tis but an English king pining in banishment, by rallying its forces it can decapitate “mee lord protectour” and re-ascend in triumph the steps of its ancient throne. This done, ’tis no longer an English king but an Emperor of Muscovy—so complete and absolute is its sway over the passions.
‘Ainsi de vos désirs toujours reine absolue
De la plus forte ardeur vous portez vos esprits
Jusqu’à l’indifférence, et peut-être au mépris,
Et votre fermeté fait succéder sans peine