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！
Madame Michelet's life is in strange contrast with the ways of the modern spouse who； under pretext of grief； discards and displaces every reminder of the dead。 In our day； when the great art is to forget； an existence consecrated to a memory is so rare that the world might be the better for knowing that a woman lives who； young and beautiful； was happy in the society of an old man； whose genius she appreciated and cherished； who loves him dead as she loved him living。 By her care the apartment remains as it stood when he left it； to die at Hyeres； … the furniture； the paintings； the writing…table。 No stranger has sat in his chair； no acquaintance has drunk from his cup。 This woman； who was a perfect wife and now fills one's ideal of what a widow's life should be； has constituted herself the vigilant guardian of her husband's memory。 She loves to talk of the illustrious dead； and tell how he was fond of saying that Virgil and Vico were his parents。 Any one who reads the GEORGICS or THE BIRD will see the truth of this； for he loved all created things； his ardent spiritism perceiving that the essence which moved the ocean's tides was the same that sang in the robin at the window during his last illness； which he called his 〃little captive soul。〃
The author of LA BIBLE DE L'HUMANITE had to a supreme degree the love of country； and possessed the power of reincarnating with each succeeding cycle of its history。 So luminous was his mind； so profound and far…reaching his sympathy； that he understood the obscure workings of the mediaeval mind as clearly as he appreciated Mirabeau's transcendent genius。 He believed that humanity； like Prometheus； was self…made； that nations modelled their own destiny during the actions and reactions of history； as each one of us acquires a personality through the struggles and temptations of existence； by the evolving power every soul carries within itself。
Michelet taught that each nation was the hero of its own drama； that great men have not been different from the rest of their race … on the contrary； being the condensation of an epoch； that； no matter what the apparent eccentricities of a leader may have been； he was the expression of a people's spirit。 This discovery that a race is transformed by its action upon itself and upon the elements it absorbs from without； wipes away at a stroke the popular belief in 〃predestined races〃 or providential 〃great men〃 appearing at crucial moments and riding victorious across the world。
An historian； if what he writes is to have any value； must know the people； the one great historical factor。 Radicalism in history is the beginning of truth。 Guided by this light of his own； Michelet discovered a fresh factor heretofore unnoticed； that vast fermentation which in France transforms all foreign elements into an integral part of the country's being。 After studying his own land through the thirteen centuries of her growth； from the chart of Childebert to the will of Louis XVI。； Michelet declared that while England is a composite empire and Germany a region； France is a personality。 In consequence he regarded the history of his country as a long dramatic poem。 Here we reach the inner thought of the historian； the secret impulse that guided his majestic pen。
The veritable hero of his splendid Iliad is at first ignorant and obscure； seeking passionately like OEdipus to know himself。 The interest of the piece is absorbing。 We can follow the gradual development of his nature as it becomes more attractive and sympathetic with each advancing age； until； through the hundred acts of the tragedy； he achieves a soul。 For Michelet to write the history of his country was to describe the long evolution of a hero。 He was fond of telling his friends that during the Revolution of July； while he was making his translation of Vico； this great fact was revealed to him in the blazing vision of a people in revolt。 At that moment the young and unknown author resolved to devote his life； his talents； his gift of clairvoyance； the magic of his inimitable style and creative genius； to fixing on paper the features seen in his vision。
Conceived and executed in this spirit； his history could be but a stupendous epic； and proves once again the truth of Aristotle's assertion that there is often greater truth in poetry than in prose。
Seeking in the remote past for the origin of his hero； Michelet pauses first before THE CATHEDRAL。 The poem begins like some mediaeval tale。 The first years of his youthful country are devoted to a mystic religion。 Under his ardent hands vast naves rise and belfries touch the clouds。 It is but a sad and cramped development； however； statutes restrain his young ardor and chill his blood。 It is not until the boy is behind the plough in the fields and sunlight that his real life begins … a poor； brutish existence； if you will； but still life。 The 〃Jacques；〃 half man and half beast； of the Middle Ages is the result of a thousand years of suffering。
A woman's voice calls this brute to arms。 An enemy is overrunning the land。 Joan the virgin … 〃my Joan；〃 Michelet calls her … whose heart bleeds when blood is shed； frees her country。 A shadow； however； soon obscures this gracious vision from Jacques's eyes。 The vast monarchical incubus rises between the people and their ideal。 Our historian turns in disgust from the later French kings。 He has neither time nor heart to write their history； so passes quickly from Louis XI。 to the great climax of his drama … the Revolution。 There we find his hero； emerging at last from tyranny and oppression。 Freedom and happiness are before him。 Alas！ his eyes； accustomed to the dim light of dungeons； are dazzled by the sun of liberty； he strikes friend and foe alike。
In the solitary galleries of the 〃Archives〃 Michelet communes with the great spirits of that day； Desaix； Marceau； Kleber； … elder sons of the Republic； who whisper many secrets to their pupil as he turns over faded pages tied with tri…colored ribbons； where the cities of France have written their affection for liberty； love…letters from Jacques to his mistress。 Michelet is happy。 His long labor is drawing to an end。 The great epic which he has followed as it developed through the centuries is complete。 His hero stands hand in hand before the altar with the spouse of his choice； for whose smile he has toiled and struggled。 The poet…historian sees again in the FETE DE LA FEDERATION the radiant face of his vision； the true face of France； LA DULCE。
Through all the lyricism of this master's work one feels that he has 〃lived〃 history as he wrote it； following his subject from its obscure genesis to a radiant apotheosis。 The faithful companion of Michelet's age has borne witness to this power which he possessed of projecting himself into another age and living with his subject。 She repeats to those who know her how he trembled in passion and burned with patriotic emotion in transcribing the crucial pages of his country's history； rejoicing in her successes and depressed by her faults； like the classic historian