And truth destroys so many
abuses and errors that all those who live by falsehood rise up to slay
the truth; they begin by assailing the man. Let inventors then have
patience! I myself desire to have it. Unfortunately, my patience
proceeds from my love. In the hope of obtaining Marie, I dream of
glory and I pursue it. I saw a piece of straw fly up above a boiler.
All men have had the same experience since boilers and straw existed.
But I saw there a force; in order to estimate its violence, I put a
lid on the boiler; the lid flew off but did not kill me. Archimedes
and I are of the same mind! He wished for a lever and a fulcrum to
move the world; I possess this lever and have been fool enough to say
so; since then--misfortunes have overwhelmed me. If I should die, you,
man of genius who shall discover the secret, act on it, but keep
silence. The light which we discover, men take from us, only to set on
fire our funeral pile. Galileo, my master, is in prison for having
said that the earth moves, and I am here for attempting to apply the
forces of the earth. No! I am here because I rebel against the
cupidity of those who desire to steal my secret; were it not for my
love for Marie, I would claim my liberty to-night, leaving to them the
profit, keeping to myself the fame--Ah! What rage is in my heart! But
rage is only fit for children; let me be calm and then I shall be
strong. Would that I might have news of the only man who has faith in
me! He is at liberty, he, who begged to win me bread.
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