Madame du Deffand. 1697-1784.
He [Voltaire] has invented history.[801:5]
It is only the first step which costs.[801:6]
In reply to the Cardinal de Polignac.
Footnotes
[801:5] Fournier: L'Esprit dans l'Histoire, p. 191.
[801:6] Voltaire writes to Madame du Deffand, January, 1764, that one of her bon-mots is quoted in the notes of "La Pucelle," canto 1: "Il n'y a que le premier pas qui coûte."
[802]