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！
The phenomenon of 1814 after Napoleon was reproduced in 1830 after Charles X。
The attempt has been made； and wrongly； to make a class of the bourgeoisie。
The bourgeoisie is simply the contented portion of the people。
The bourgeois is the man who now has time to sit down。 A chair is not a caste。
But through a desire to sit down too soon； one may arrest the very march of the human race。
This has often been the fault of the bourgeoisie。
One is not a class because one has mitted a fault。
Selfishness is not one of the divisions of the social order。
Moreover； we must be just to selfishness。
The state to which that part of the nation which is called the bourgeoisie aspired after the shock of 1830 was not the inertia which is plicated with indifference and laziness； and which contains a little shame； it was not the slumber which presupposes a momentary forgetfulness accessible to dreams； it was the halt。
The halt is a word formed of a singular double and almost contradictory sense：
a troop on the march； that is to say； movement； a stand； that is to say； repose。
The halt is the restoration of forces； it is repose armed and on the alert； it is the acplished fact which posts sentinels and holds itself on its guard。
The halt presupposes the bat of yesterday and the bat of to…morrow。
It is the partition between 1830 and 1848。
What we here call bat may also be designated as progress。
The bourgeoisie then； as well as the statesmen； required a man who should express this word Halt。
An Although…Because。 A posite individuality； signifying revolution and signifying stability； in other terms； strengthening the present by the evident patibility of the past with the future。
This man was 〃already found。〃
His name was Louis Philippe d'Orleans。
The 221 made Louis Philippe King。
Lafayette undertook the coronation。
He called it the best of republics。
The town…hall of Paris took the place of the Cathedral of Rheims。
This substitution of a half…throne for a whole throne was 〃the work of 1830。〃
When the skilful had finished； the immense vice of their solution became apparent。
All this had been acplished outside the bounds of absolute right。
Absolute right cried： 〃I protest！〃 then； terrible to say； it retired into the darkness。
BOOK FIRST。A FEW PAGES OF HISTORY
CHAPTER III
LOUIS PHILIPPE
Revolutions have a terrible arm and a happy hand； they strike firmly and choose well。
Even inplete； even debased and abused and reduced to the state of a junior revolution like the Revolution of 1830； they nearly always retain sufficient providential lucidity to prevent them from falling amiss。
Their eclipse is never an abdication。
Nevertheless； let us not boast too loudly； revolutions also may be deceived； and grave errors have been seen。
Let us return to 1830。
1830； in its deviation； had good luck。 In the establishment which entitled itself order after the revolution had been cut short； the King amounted to more than royalty。 Louis Philippe was a rare man。
The son of a father to whom history will accord certain attenuating circumstances； but also as worthy of esteem as that father had been of blame； possessing all private virtues and many public virtues； careful of his health； of his fortune； of his person； of his affairs； knowing the value of a minute and not always the value of a year； sober； serene； peaceable； patient； a good man and a good prince； sleeping with his wife； and having in his palace lackeys charged with the duty of showing the conjugal bed to the bourgeois； an ostentation of the regular sleeping…apartment which had bee useful after the former illegitimate displays of the elder branch； knowing all the languages of Europe； and； what is more rare； all the languages of all interests； and speaking them； an admirable representative of the 〃middle class；〃 but outstripping it； and in every way greater than it； possessing excellent sense； while appreciating the blood from which he had sprung； counting most of all on his intrinsic worth； and； on the question of his race； very particular； declaring himself Orleans and not Bourbon； thoroughly the first Prince of the Blood Royal while he was still only a Serene Highness； but a frank bourgeois from the day he became king； diffuse in public； concise in private； reputed； but not proved to be a miser； at bottom； one of those economists who are readily prodigal at their own fancy or duty； lettered； but not very sensitive to letters； a gentleman； but not a chevalier； simple； calm； and strong； adored by his family and his household； a fascinating talker； an undeceived statesman； inwardly cold； dominated by immediate interest； always governing at the shortest range； incapable of rancor and of gratitude； making use without mercy of superiority on mediocrity； clever in getting parliamentary majorities to put in the wrong those mysterious unanimities which mutter dully under thrones； unreserved； sometimes imprudent in his lack of reserve； but with marvellous address in that imprudence； fertile in expedients； in countenances； in masks； making France fear Europe and Europe France！ Incontestably fond of his country； but preferring his family； assuming more domination than authority and more authority than dignity； a disposition which has this unfortunate property； that as it turns everything to success； it admits of ruse and does not absolutely repudiate baseness； but which has this valuable side； that it preserves politics from violent shocks； the state from fractures； and society from catastrophes； minute； correct； vigilant； attentive； sagacious； indefatigable； contradicting himself at times and giving himself the lie； bold against Austria at Ancona； obstinate against England in Spain； bombarding Antwerp； and paying off Pritchard； singing the Marseillaise with conviction； inaccessible to despondency； to lassitude； to the taste for the beautiful and the ideal； to daring generosity； to Utopia； to chimeras； to wrath； to vanity； to fear； possessing all the forms of personal intrepidity； a general at Valmy； a soldier at Jemappes； attacked eight times