按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
rely moral revolution which surely ought to have been accomplished peacefully； the thought of the horrors of a revolution； in which material interests are concerned； makes me shudder； and I am for maintaining existing institutions。 'Each shall have his own thought；' is the dictum of Christianity； 'Each man shall have his own field；' says modern law； and in this； modern law is in harmony with Christianity。 Each shall have his own thought； that is a consecration of the rights of intelligence； and each shall have his own field； is a consecration of the right to property that has been acquired by toil。 Hence our society。 Nature has based human life upon the instinct of self…preservation； and social life is founded upon personal interest。 Such ideas as these are； to my thinking； the very rudiments of politics。 Religion keeps these two selfish sentiments in subordination by the thought of a future life； and in this way the harshness of the conflict of interests has been somewhat softened。 God has mitigated the sufferings that arise from social friction by a religious sentiment which raises self…forgetfulness into a virtue； just as He has moderated the friction of the mechanism of the universe by laws which we do not know。 Christianity bids the poor bear patiently with the rich； and commands the rich to lighten the burdens of the poor； these few words； to my mind； contain the essence of all laws； human and divine！〃
〃I am no statesman；〃 said the notary； 〃I see in a ruler a liquidator of society which should always remain in liquidation； he should hand over to his successor the exact value of the assets which he received。〃
〃I am no statesman either；〃 said Benassis； hastily interrupting the notary。 〃It takes nothing but a little common sense to better the lot of a commune； of a canton； or of an even wider district； a department calls for some administrative talent； but all these four spheres of action are comparatively limited； the outlook is not too wide for ordinary powers of vision； and there is a visible connection between their interests and the general progress made by the State。
〃But in yet higher regions； everything is on a larger scale； the horizon widens； and from the standpoint where he is placed； the statesman ought to grasp the whole situation。 It is only necessary to consider liabilities due ten years hence； in order to bring about a great deal of good in the case of the department； the district； the canton； or the commune； but when it is a question of the destinies of a nation； a statesman must foresee a more distant future and the course that events are likely to take for the next hundred years。 The genius of a Colbert or of a Sully avails nothing； unless it is supported by the energetic will that makes a Napoleon or a Cromwell。 A great minister； gentlemen； is a great thought written at large over all the years of a century of prosperity and splendor for which he has prepared the way。 Steadfast perseverance is the virtue of which he stands most in need； and in all human affairs does not steadfast perseverance indicate a power of the very highest order？ We have had for some time past too many men who think only of the ministry instead of the nation； so that we cannot but admire the real statesman as the vastest human Poetry。 Ever to look beyond the present moment； to foresee the ways of Destiny； to care so little for power that he only retains it because he is conscious of his usefulness； while he does not overestimate his strength； ever to lay aside all personal feeling and low ambitions； so that he may always be master of his faculties； and foresee； will； and act without ceasing； to compel himself to be just and impartial； to keep order on a large scale； to silence his heart that he may be guided by his intellect alone； to be neither apprehensive nor sanguine； neither suspicious nor confiding； neither grateful nor ungrateful； never to be unprepared for an event； nor taken unawares by an idea； to live； in fact； with the requirements of the masses ever in his mind； to spread the protecting wings of his thought above them； to sway them by the thunder of his voice and the keenness of his glance； seeing all the while not the details of affairs； but the great issues at stakeis not that to be something more than a mere man？ Therefore the names of the great and noble fathers of nations cannot but be household words for ever。〃
There was silence for a moment； during which the guests looked at one another。
〃Gentlemen； you have not said a word about the army！〃 cried Genestas。 〃A military organization seems to me to be the real type on which all good civil society should be modeled； the Sword is the guardian of a nation。〃
The justice of the peace laughed softly。
〃Captain；〃 he said； 〃an old lawyer once said that empires began with the sword and ended with the desk； we have reached the desk stage by this time。〃
〃And now that we have settled the fate of the world； gentlemen； let us change the subject。 Come； captain； a glass of Hermitage；〃 cried the doctor； laughing。
〃Two； rather than one；〃 said Genestas； holding out his glass。 〃I mean to drink them both to your healthto a man who does honor to the species。〃
〃And who is dear to all of us；〃 said the cure in gentle tones。
〃Do you mean to force me into the sin of pride； M。 Janvier？〃
〃M。 le Cure has only said in a low voice what all the canton says aloud；〃 said Cambon。
〃Gentlemen； I propose that we take a walk to the parsonage by moonlight； and see M。 Janvier home。〃
〃Let us start；〃 said the guests； and they prepared to accompany the cure。
〃Shall we go to the barn？〃 said the doctor； laying a hand on Genestas' arm。 They had taken leave of the cure and the other guests。 〃You will hear them talking about Napoleon； Captain Bluteau。 Goguelat； the postman； is there； and there are several of his cronies who are sure to draw him out on the subject of the idol of the people。 Nicolle； my stableman； has set a ladder so that we can climb up on to the hay； there is a place from which we can look down on the whole scene。 Come along； an up…sitting is something worth seeing； believe me。 It will not be the first time that I have hidden in the hay to overhear a soldier's tales or the stories that peasants tell among themselves。 We must be careful to keep out of sight though； as these folk turn shy and put on company manners as soon as they see a stranger。〃
〃Eh！ my dear sir；〃 said Genestas； 〃have I not often pretended to be asleep so as to hear my troopers talking out on bivouac？ My word； I once heard a droll yarn reeled off by an old quartermaster for some conscripts who were afraid of war； I never laughed so heartily in any theatre in Paris。 He was telling them about the Retreat from Moscow。 He told them that the army had nothing but the clothes they stood up in； that their wine was iced； that the dead stood stock…still in the road just where they were； that they had seen White Russia； and that they currycombed the horses there with their teeth； that those who were fond of skating had fine times of it； and people who had a fancy for savory ices had as much as they could put away； that the women were generally poor company； but that the only thing they could really complain of was the want of hot water for shaving。 In fact； he told them such a pack of absurdities； that even an old quartermaster who had lost his nose with a frost…bite； so that they had dubbed him Nezrestant； was fain to laugh。〃
〃Hush！〃 said Benassis； 〃here we are。 I will go first； follow after me。〃
Both of them scaled the ladder and hid themselves in the hay； in a place from whence they could have a good view of the party below； who had not heard a sound overhead。 Little groups of women were clustered about three or four candles。 Some of them sewed； others were spinning； a good few of them were doing nothing； and sat with their heads strained forward； and their eyes fixed on an old peasant who was telling a story。 The men were standing about for the most part； or lying at full length on the trusses of hay。 Every group was absolutely silent。 Their faces were barely visible by the flickering gleams of the candles by which the women were working； although each candle was surrounded by a glass globe fi