PASSAGES FOR TRANSLATION

united to the crown the duchy of Burgundy, the county of Provence, and Guyenne.

L. XII. I understand you. You knew how to get rid of a brother in order to get his portion. You took advantage of the misfortunes of the Duke of Burgundy. As for me, I was content with acquiring Brittany by a lawful alliance with the heiress to that province, whom I loved, and whom I married after the death of your son. Besides, I thought less of acquiring new subjects than of making those I already had loyal and happy.

(After Fénelon— Dialogues des Morts.)

It is more than probable that, in renouncing almost openly the ties of religion, honour, and morality, by which mankind at large feel themselves influenced, Louis sought to obtain great advantages in his negotiations with parties who might esteem themselves bound, while lie himself enjoyed liberty. He started from the goal, he might suppose, like the racer who lias got rid of the weights with which his competitors are still encumbered, and expects to succeed, of course. But Providence seems always to unité the existence of peculiar danger with some circumstance which may put those exposed to the péril upon their guard. The example of Louis XI raised disgust and suspicion rather than a désire of imitation among other nations in Europe, and the circumstance of his outwitting more than one of his contemporaries, operated to put others on their guard. Indeed, although the reign of Louis had been as successful in a political point of view as he himself could hâve desired, the spectacle of his deathbed might of itself be a warning-piece against the séduction of his example. Jealous of everyone, but chiefly of his own son, he immured himself in his castle of Plessis, intrusting his person exclusively to the doubtful faith of his Scottish mercenaries. He never stirred from his chamber; he admitted no one into it, and wearied Heaven and every saint with prayers,

not for the forgiveness of his sins, but for the prolongation of his life. Bodily healtli and terrestrial felicity seemed to be his only objcct. So great were the well-merited tortures of this tyrant's deathbed, that Philippe de Commines enters intoa regular comparison between them and the numerous cruelties infiicted on others by his order; and considering both, comes to express an opinion that the worldly pangs and agony suffered by Louis were such as might conipensate the crimes he had committed.

(Walter Scott — Quentin Dunvard.)

PQ Delavigne, Jean François

2217 Casimir

D8L6 Louis XI; tragédie en

1913 cinq actes