TOUSSAINT L'OUVERTURE. 221

 to their wretcbhqdnes in gambling and in voluptuous-
 S ce and adultery became common. Others endear-
 drown their tormnuts in r., kle-i intoxication; others,
 Ittired in military r.utume, whiih at suth a moment was
 ridiculous, threw insult at thL. dis.eace, and braied death,
 ansatirical gayety or in bulirooneri.s, or in roars of' illy
 r The words Ah' hli.e unny: lllow," betame a dc-
 phrase to indicate a poor wretch that was trying to laugh
 away his i.alamlty. Jhirs-, again, deep sunk in guilt,
 to deceive Death in the arms of a mistress or in per-
 baths. While all around was perishing, songs were heard
 the sea They wte tlinl atlrinipts of men who thus tried
 het themselves into munmi(Jt.ary joy. The nearer men
 to eternity, the, more greedy they nar. ol' the ple*ures of

1uline, the wilfe of L-..lere and the ?iter of the Conul, did
nWenounce her voluptuou- habits 1in11 il idst of so terrible a
tee. In the hope ,o breatLiun a Ik.-s inferred air, sh- had
I toacotury house, on the dc liu i i of a pleasant hill which
irhung the sea. Here -li- paBa.il her hour:, in pleasure and
try. She saw die around her ollicer, whoie inc ense she
welcomed, but Ior ahoie su fl rings he lhow-ie not oncern,-
Wat only.on putting away all unpleasant objects, and seizing
i avidity on si-urtes of gratification. Now she caused her-
F like a qur'en, to he borne in a palanquin through the most
Ltiful scenes of nature thern- would she, for hours together,
Mia,in contemplating the ocean anil its dclighttul shores, load-
rith the luxuries of tropi,'al s.?gvtatic.n ; now she plunged
ItL he depths of udoril'eroiu, Ilbr..;E, anid surrundired herself
.the captivating reveries of lue I 1.; a.nd now -he sailed tn the
i accompanied by cour n;rs, niusit ,v, and buffoons, as if
6 would sustain the t haraelcr of Venus rising from the waves.
1What is still more remarkable is that she took pains to defy
malady by li-itivities, in which she gathered around her
icing, music. pleasure, and voluptuousness; t ere she drew
I-berelf admiration by her wit, her graces, her beauty, and
 ID*