_] and haunted for ever by wars or rumours of wars,
decussated (for anything I know to the contrary) absolutely under
Joanna's bedroom window; one rolling away to the right, past M. D'Arc's
old barn, and the other unaccountably preferring to sweep round that
odious man's pig-sty to the left.
On whichever side of the border chance had thrown Joanna, the same love
to France would have been nurtured. For it is a strange fact, noticed
by M. Michelet and others, that the Dukes of Bar and Lorraine had for
generations pursued the policy of eternal warfare with France on their
own account, yet also of eternal amity and league with France in case
anybody else presumed to attack her. Let peace settle upon France, and
before long you might rely upon seeing the little vixen Lorraine flying
at the throat of France. Let France be assailed by a formidable enemy,
and instantly you saw a Duke of Lorraine insisting on having his own
throat cut in support of France; which favour accordingly was
cheerfully granted to him in three great successive battles: twice by
the English, viz., at Crecy and Agincourt, once by the Sultan at
Nicopolis.
This sympathy with France during great eclipses, in those that during
ordinary seasons were always teasing her with brawls and guerilla
inroads, strengthened the natural piety to France of those that were
confessedly the children of her own house.
Pages:
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118