He even affected--perhaps he felt--respect for the absolute power of kings.

He pushed that respect so far as even to worship their weaknesses.

He palliated the infamous vices of the great Frederic, and brought philosophy on its knees before the mistresses of Louis XV.

Like the courtezan of Thebes, who built one of the pyramids of Egypt from the fruits of her debaucheries, Voltaire did not blush at any prostitution of genius, provided that the wages of his servility enabled him to purchase enemies against Christ.

He enrolled them by millions throughout Europe, and especially in France.