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！
consequence。 He discharged the debt of his rank； this sufficed for
him； and； after twenty or thirty years of service； the order of
Saint…Louis； and sometimes a meager pension； were all he had a right
to expect。 Amongst nine or ten thousand officers； the great
majority coming from the lower and poorer class of provincial
nobles； body…guards； lieutenants； captains； majors； lieutenant…
colonels； and even colonels； have no other pretension。 Satisfied
with favors＇32＇ restricted to their subordinate rank； they leave the
highest grades of the service to the heirs of the great families； to
the courtiers or to the parvenus at Versailles； and content
themselves with remaining the guardians of public order； and the
brave defenders of the State。 Under this system； when the heart is
not depraved it becomes exalted； it is made a point of honor to
serve without compensation； there is nothing but the public welfare
in view； and all the more because； at this moment； it is the
absorbing topic of all minds and of all literature。 Nowhere has
practical philosophy； that which consists in a spirit of abnegation；
more deeply penetrated than among this unrecognized nobility。 Under
a polished； brilliant； and sometimes frivolous exterior； they have a
serious soul ； the old sentiment of honor is converted into one of
patriotism。 Set to execute the laws； with force in hand to maintain
peace through fear； they feel the importance of their mission； and；
for two years； fulfill its duties with extraordinary moderation；
gentleness； and patience； not only at the risk of their lives； but
amidst great and multiplied humiliations； through the sacrifice of
their authority and self…esteem； through the subjection of their
intelligent will to the dictation and incapacity of the masters
imposed upon them。 For a noble officer to respond to the
requisitions of an extemporized bourgeois municipal body；＇33＇ to
subordinate his competence； courage； and prudence to the blunders
and alarms of five or six inexperienced； frightened； and timid
attorneys； to place his energy and daring at the service of their
presumption； feebleness； and lack of decision； even when their
orders or refusal of orders are manifestly absurd or injurious； even
when they are opposed to the previous instructions of his general or
of his minister； even when they end in the plundering of a market；
the burning of a chateau； the assassination of an innocent person；
even when they impose upon him the obligation of witnessing crime
with his sword sheathed and arms folded；＇34＇ … this is a hard
task。 It is hard for the noble officer to see independent； popular；
and bourgeois troops organized in the face of his own troops； rivals
and even hostile； in any case ten times as numerous and no less
exacting than sensitive … hard to be expected to show them
deference and extend civilities to them； to surrender to them posts；
arsenals； and citadels； to treat their chiefs as equals； however
ignorant or unworthy； and whatever they may be … here a lawyer；
there a Capuchin； elsewhere a brewer or a shoemaker； most generally
some demagogue； and； in many a town or village； some deserter or
soldier drummed out of his regiment for bad conduct； perhaps one of
the noble's own men； a scamp whom he has formerly discharged with
the yellow cartridge； telling him to go and be hung elsewhere。 It
is hard for the noble officer to be publicly and daily calumniated
on account of his rank and title； to be characterized as a traitor
at the club and in the newspapers； to be designated by name as an
object of popular suspicion and fury； to be hooted at in the streets
and in the theater； to submit to the disobedience of his men； to be
denounced； insulted； arrested； fleeced； hunted down and slaughtered
by them and by the populace； to see before him a cruel； ignoble； and
unavenged death … that of M。 de Launay； murdered at Paris …
that of M。 de Belzunce； murdered at Caen … that of M。 de
Beausset； murdered at Marseilles … that of M。 de Voisins；
murdered at Valence … that of M。 de Rully； murdered at Bastia； or
that of M。 de Rochetailler； murdered at Port…au…Prince。＇35＇ All
this is endured by the officers among the nobles。 Not one of the
municipalities； even Jacobin； can find any pretext which will
warrant the charge of disobeying orders。 Through tact and deference
they avoid all conflict with the National Guards。 Never do they
give provocation； and； even when insulted； rarely defend themselves。
Their gravest faults consist of imprudent conversations； vivacious
expressions and witticisms。 Like good watch…dogs amongst a
frightened herd which trample them under foot； or pierce them with
their horns； they allow themselves to be pierced and trampled on
without biting； and would remain at their post to the end were they
not driven away from it。
All to no purpose： doubly suspicious as members of a proscribed
class； and as heads of the army； it is against them that public
distrust excites the most frequent explosions； and so much the more
as the instrument they handle is singularly explosive。 Recruited by
volunteer enlistment 〃amongst a passionate； turbulent； and somewhat
debauched people；〃 the army is composed of 〃all that are most fiery；
most turbulent； and most debauched in the nation。〃＇36＇ Add to these
the sweepings of the alms…houses； and you find a good many
blackguards in uniform！ When we consider that the pay is small； the
food bad； discipline severe； no promotion； and desertion endemic； we
are no longer surprised at the general disorder： license； to such
men； is too powerful a temptation。 With wine； women； and money they
have from the first been made turncoats； and from Paris the
contagion has spread to the provinces。 In Brittany；＇37＇ the
grenadiers and chasseurs of Ile…de…France 〃sell their coats； their
guns； and their shoes； exacting advances in order to consume it in
the tavern；〃 fifty…six soldiers of Penthièvre 〃wanted to murder
their officers；〃 and it is foreseen that； left to themselves； they
will soon； for lack of pay； 〃betake themselves to the highways； to
rob and assassinate。〃 In Euree…et…Loir； the dragoons；＇38＇ with saber
and pistols in hand； visit the farmers' houses and take bread and
money； while the foot soldiers of the 〃Royal…Comtois〃 and the
dragoons of the 〃Colonel…Général〃 desert in bands in order to go to
Paris； where amusement is to be had。 The main thing with them is
〃to have a jolly time。〃 In fact； the extensive military
insurrections of the earliest date； those of Paris； Versailles；
Besan？on； and Strasbourg； began or ended with a revel。 … Out of
these depths of gross desires there has sprung up natural or
legitimate ambitions。 A number of soldiers； for twenty years past；
have learned how to read； and think themselves qualified to be
officers。 One quarter of those enlisted； moreover； are young men
born in good circumstances； and whom a caprice has thrown into the
army。