THE WORKS

OF

Robert G. Ingersoll

"GIVE ME THE STORM AND TEMPEST OF THOUGHT
AND ACTION, RATHER THAN THE DEAD CALM OF IGNOR-
ANCE AND FAITH. BANISH ME FROM EDEN WHEN YOU
WILL; BUT FIRST LET ME EAT OF THE FRUIT OF THE
TREE OF KNOWLEDGE."

IN TWELVE VOLUMES

VOLUME III.

LECTURES

NEW YORK

THE DRESDEN PUBLISHING CO.,

C. P. FARRELL

CONTENTS OF VOLUME III.

SHAKESPEARE.
(1891.)

I. The Greatest Genius of our World-Not of Supernatural Origin

or of Royal Blood-Illiteracy of his Parents-Education-His
Father-His Mother a Great Woman-Stratford Unconscious of the
Immortal Child-Social Position of Shakespeare-Of his Personal
Peculiarities-Birth, Marriage, and Death-What we Know of Him-
No Line written by him to be Found-The Absurd Epitaph-II. Con-
temporaries by whom he was Mentioned-III. No direct Mention of
any of his Contemporaries in the Plays-Events and Personages of
his Time-IV. Position of the Actor in Shakespeare's Time-Fortu-
nately he was Not Educated at Oxford-An Idealist-His Indifference
to Stage-carpentry and Plot-He belonged to All Lands-Knew the
Brain and Heart of Man-An Intellectual Spendthrift-V. The
Baconian Theory-VI. Dramatists before and during the Time of
Shakespeare-Dramatic Incidents Illustrated in Passages from "Mac-
beth" and "Julius Cæsar ”—VII. His Use of the Work of Others—
The Pontic Sea-A Passage from "Lear"-VIII. Extravagance that
touches the Infinite-The Greatest Compliment-"Let me not live
after my flame lacks oil"-Where Pathos almost Touches the
Grotesque-IX. An Innovator and Iconoclast-Disregard of the
Unities"-Nature Forgets-Violation of the Classic Model-X.

Types-The Secret of Shakespeare-Characters who Act from Reason

and Motive-What they Say not the Opinion of Shakespeare-XI.

The Procession that issued from Shakespeare's Brain-His Great

Women-Lovable Clowns-His Men-Talent and Genius-XII. The

Greatest of all Philosophers-Master of the Human Heart-Love-

XIII. In the Realm of Comparison-XIV. Definitions: Suicide,

Drama, Death, Memory, the Body, Life, Echo, the World, Rumor—

The Confidant of Nature-XV. Humor and Pathos-Illustrations-

XVI. Not a Physician, Lawyer, or Botanist-He was a Man of Imag-

ination-He lived the Life of All-The Imagination had a Stage in

Shakespeare's Brain,

64

ROBERT BURNS.

(1878.)

I-73

Poetry and Poets-Milton, Dante, Petrarch-Old-time Poetry in
Scotland-Influence of Scenery on Literature-Lives that are Poems
-Birth of Burns-Early Life and Education-Scotland Emerging
from the Gloom of Calvinism-A Metaphysical Peasantry-Power of
the Scotch Preacher-Famous Scotch Names-John Barleycorn vs.
Calvinism-Why Robert Burns is Loved-His Reading-Made God-

desses of Women-Poet of Love: His "Vision," "Bonnie Doon,"

"To Mary in Heaven "-Poet of Home: "Cotter's Saturday Night,'

"John Anderson, My Jo"-Friendship: "Auld Lang Syne"-Scotch

Drink: "Willie brew'd a peck o' maut "-Burns the Artist: The

"Brook," "Tam O'Shanter "-A Real Democrat: “A man's a man

for a' that"-His Theology: The Dogma of Eternal Pain, "Moral-

ity," "Hypocrisy," "Holy Willie's Prayer"-On the Bible-A State-

ment of his Religion-Contrasted with Tennyson-From Cradle to

Coffin-His Last words-Lines on the Birth-place of Burns, . 77-119

ABRAHAM LINCOLN.

(1894.)

I. Simultaneous Birth of Lincoln and Darwin-Heroes of Every

Generation-Slavery-Principle Sacrificed to Success-Lincoln's

Childhood-His first Speech-A Candidate for the Senate against

Douglass-II. A Crisis in the Affairs of the Republic-The South Not

Alone Responsible for Slavery-Lincoln's Prophetic Words-Nom-

inated for President and Elected in Spite of his Fitness-III. Seces-

sion and Civil War-The Thought uppermost in his Mind-IV. A

Crisis in the North-Proposition to Purchase the Slaves-V. The

Proclamation of Emancipation-His Letter to Horace Greeley-

Waited on by Clergymen VI. Surrounded by Enemies-Hostile At-

titude of Gladstone, Salisbury, Louis Napoleon, and the Vatican-

VII. Slavery the Perpetual Stumbling-block-Confiscation-VIII.

His Letter to a Republican Meeting in Illinois-Its Effect-IX. The

Power of His Personality-The Embodiment of Mercy-Use of the

Pardoning Power-X. The Vallandigham Affair-The Horace Gree-

ley Incident-Triumphs of Humor-XI. Promotion of General

Hooker-A Prophecy and its Fulfillment-XII.-States Rights vs.

Territorial Integrity-XIII. His Military Genius-The Foremost Man

in all the World: and then the Horror Came-XIV. Strange Min-

gling of Mirth and Tears-Deformation of Great Historic Characters-

Washington now only a Steel Engraving-Lincoln not a Type-Vir-

tues Necessary in a New Country-Laws of Cultivated Society-In

the Country is the Idea of Home-Lincoln always a Pupil-A Great

Lawyer-Many-sided-Wit and Humor-As an Orator-His Speech

at Gettysburg contrasted with the Oration of Edward Everett-Apolo-

getic in his Kindness-No Official Robes-The gentlest Memory of

our World,
123-173

VOLTAIRE.

(1894.)

I. Changes wrought by Time-Throne and Altar Twin Vultures-
The King and the Priest-What is Greatness?-Effect of Voltaire's
Name on Clergyman and Priest-Born and Baptized-State of France
in 1694-The Church at the Head-Efficacy of Prayers and Dead
Saints-Bells and Holy Water-Prevalence of Belief in Witches,
Devils, and Fiends-Seeds of the Revolution Scattered by Noble and
Priest-Condition in England-The Inquisition in full Control in
Spain-Portugal and Germany burning Women- Italy Prostrate be-
neath the Priests, the Puritans in America persecuting Quakers, and

stealing Children-II. The Days of Youth-His Education-Chooses

Literature as a Profession and becomes a Diplomat-In Love and

Disinherited-Unsuccessful Poem Competition-Jansenists and Molin-

ists-The Bull Unigenitus-Exiled to Tulle-Sent to the Bastile-

Exiled to England-Acquaintances made there-III. The Morn of

Manhood-His Attention turned to the History of the Church-The

"Triumphant Beast" Attacked-Europe Filled with the Product of

his Brain-What he Mocked-The Weapon of Ridicule-His Theol-

ogy-His "Retractions "-What Goethe said of Voltaire-IV. The

Scheme of Nature-His belief in the Optimism of Pope Destroyed by

the Lisbon Earthquake-V. His Humanity-Case of Jean Calas-

The Sirven Family-The Espenasse Case-Case of Chevalier de la

Barre and D'Etallonde-Voltaire Abandons France-A Friend of

Education-An Abolitionist-Not a Saint-VI. The Return-His Re-

ception-His Death-Burial at Romilli-on-the-Seine-VII. The

Death-bed Argument-Serene Demise of the_Infamous-God has no

Time to defend the Good and protect the Pure-Eloquence of the

Clergy on the Death-bed Subject-The Second Return-Throned

upon the Bastile—The Grave Desecrated by Priests—Voltaire, 177-248

LIBERTY IN LITERATURE.

(1890.)

A Testimonial to Walt Whitman-Let us put Wreaths on the Brows

of the Living-Literary Ideals of the American People in 1855-

"Leaves of Grass"-Its reception by the Provincial Prudes-The

Religion of the Body-Appeal to Manhood and Womanhood-Books

written for the Market-The Index Expurgatorius-Whitman a be-

liever in Democracy-Individuality-Humanity-An Old-time Sea-

fight-What is Poetry?-Rhyme a Hindrance to Expression-Rhythm

the Comrade of the Poetic-Whitman's Attitude toward Religion-

Philosophy-The Two Poems-"A Word Out of the Sea"-"When

Lilacs Last in the Door-yard Bloom'd"-"A Chant for Death❞—

“Old Age”—“Leaves of Grass,"
251-304

THE GREAT INFIDELS.

(1881.)

The History of Intellectual Progress is written in the Lives of

Infidels-The King and the Priest-The Origin of God and Heaven,
of the Devil and Hell-The Idea of Hell born of Ignorance, Brutality,
Cowardice, and Revenge-The Limitations of our Ancestors-The
Devil and God-Egotism of Barbarians-The Doctrine of Hell not an
Exclusive Possession of Christianity-The Appeal to the Cemetery-
Religion and Wealth, Christ and Poverty-The "Great" not on the
Side of Christ and his Disciples-Epitaphs as Battle-cries-Some
Great Men in favor of almost every Sect-Mistakes and Superstitions
of Eminent Men-Sacred Books-The Claim that all Moral Laws
came from God through the Jews-Fear-Martyrdom-God's Ways
toward Men-The Emperor Constantine-The Death Test--Theolog-
ical Comity between Protestants and Catholics-Julian-A childish
Fable still Believed-Bruno-His Crime, his Imprisonment and