human
I am directed, General Toussaint, said he,
gpt
Fear nothing, said Toussaint to her, in a tone which once more fixed all eyes upon him. His countenance was no longer unmoved. It was convulsed, for a moment, with passion. He was calm in his manner, however, as he turned to Monsieur Coasson, and said,
human
Sir, my sons are at home. It rests with myself and with them, what excursions they make henceforth.
gpt
So the long-expected letter is come at last,
human
Read it,
gpt
We hear, said Monsieur Pascal,
human
He no more understands my people than myself. Can it be possible that he believes that proclamation will be acceptable to them--that mixture of cajolery and bombast. He has heard that we are ignorant, and he concludes that we are without understanding. What think you of his promise of abundance by the hands of Leclerc? As if it were not their cupidity, excited by our abundance, which has brought these thousands of soldiers to our shores! They are welcome to it all--to our harvests, our money, and our merchandise--if they would not touch our freedom.
gpt
Bonaparte has a word to say to that in his letter to you, observed the secretary.
human
What can you desire? The freedom of the blacks? You know that in all the countries we have been in, we have given it to the people who had it not? What say the Venetians to that? What says the Pope!
gpt
Does he suppose us deaf, replied Toussaint,
human
He does not know, apparently, how our commerce with the world brings us tidings of all the world.
gpt
And if it were not so--if his were the first ships that our eyes had ever seen--does he not know that the richest tidings of liberty come, not through the eye and ear, but from the heart? Does he not know that the liberties of Saint Domingo, large as they are, everlasting as they will prove to be--all sprang from here and here? --pointing to his head and heart.
human
This is he, he continued,
gpt
Yet I gave him credit for a better appreciation of you, a clearer foresight of the destiny of this colony, than he has shown.
human
While we live, my friend, we must accept disappointment. In my youth, I learned to give up hope after hope; and one of the brightest I must now relinquish in my old age.
gpt
Two brilliant ones have, however, entered your dwelling this evening, my friend,
human
My boys? Are they not?--But these are times to show what they are. In the joy of having them back, I might have forgiven and forgotten everything, but for the claim--You heard, Pascal?
gpt
About their leaving you at dawn. Yes; that was amusing.
human
If they will not consider a negro a man, they might have remembered that beasts are desperate to recover the young that they have lost. Leclerc will find, however, that this night will make men of my sons. I will call them my boys no more; and never more shall this envoy call them his pupils, or his charge. These French will find that there is that in this Saint Domingo of ours which quickly ripens young wits, and makes the harvest ready in a day. Let them beware the reaping; for it is another sort of harvest than they look for.--But come, said he:
gpt
See here how little they comprehend how negroes may be friends! See here the proofs that they understand my Henri no better than myself.