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never weary of calling the finest book of the period； the novel of the
century。
Raoul complained bitterly of the exigencies of art。 He was one of
those who contributed most to bring all created work； pictures；
statues； books； building under the single standard of Art。 He had
begun his career by committing a volume of verse； which won him a
place in the pleiades of living poets； among these verses was a
nebulous poem that was greatly admired。 Forced by want of means to
keep on producing； he went from the theatre to the press； and from the
press to the theatre； dissipating and scattering his talent； but
believing always in his vein。 His fame was therefore not unpublished
like that of so many great minds in extremity； who sustain themselves
only by the thought of work to be done。
Nathan resembled a man of genius； and had he marched to the scaffold；
as he sometimes wished he could have done； he might have struck his
brow with the famous action of Andre Chenier。 Seized with political
ambition on seeing the rise to power of a dozen authors； professors；
metaphysicians； and historians； who encrusted themselves； so to speak；
upon the machine during the turmoils of 1830 and 1833； he regretted
that he had not spent his time on political instead of literary
articles。 He thought himself superior to all those parvenus； whose
success inspired him with consuming jealousy。 He belonged to the class
of minds ambitious of everything； capable of all things； from whom
success is； as it were； stolen； who go their way dashing at a hundred
luminous points； and settling upon none； exhausting at last the good…
will of others。
At this particular time he was going from Saint…Simonism into
republicanism； to return； very likely； to ministerialism。 He looked
for a bone to gnaw in all corners； searching for a safe place where he
could bark secure from kicks and make himself feared。 But he had the
mortification of finding he was held to be of no account by de Marsay；
then at the head of the government； who had no consideration whatever
for authors； among whom he did not find what Richelieu called a
consecutive mind； or more correctly； continuity of ideas； he counted
as any minister would have done on the constant embarrassment of
Raoul's business affairs。 Sooner or later； necessity would bring him
to accept conditions instead of imposing them。
The real； but carefully concealed character of Raoul Nathan is of a
piece with his public career。 He is a comedian in good faith； selfish
as if the State were himself； and a very clever orator。 No one knows
better how to play off sentiments； glory in false grandeurs； deck
himself with moral beauty； do honor to his nature in language； and
pose like Alceste while behaving like Philinte。 His egotism trots
along protected by this cardboard armor； and often almost reaches the
end he seeks。 Lazy to a superlative degree； he does nothing； however；
until he is prodded by the bayonets of need。 He is incapable of
continued labor applied to the creation of a work； but； in a paroxysm
of rage caused by wounded vanity； or in a crisis brought on by
creditors； he leaps the Eurotas and attains to some great triumph of
his intellect。 After which； weary； and surprised at having created
anything； he drops back into the marasmus of Parisian dissipation；
wants become formidable； he has no strength to face them； and then he
comes down from his pedestal and compromises。
Influenced by a false idea of his grandeur and of his future；the
measure of which he reckons on the noble success of one of his former
comrades； one of the few great talents brought to light by the
revolution of July；he allows himself； in order to get out of his
embarrassments； certain laxities of principle with persons who are
friendly to him；laxities which never come to the surface； but are
buried in private life； where no one ever mentions or complains of
them。 The shallowness of his heart； the impurity of his hand； which
clasps that of all vices； all evils； all treacheries； all opinions；
have made him as inviolable as a constitutional king。 Venial sins；
which excite a hue and cry against a man of high character； are
thought nothing of in him； the world hastens to excuse them。 Men who
might otherwise be inclined to despise him shake hands with him；
fearing that the day may come when they will need him。 He has； in
fact； so many friends that he wishes for enemies。
Judged from a literary point of view； Nathan lacks style and
cultivation。 Like most young men； ambitious of literary fame； he
disgorges to…day what he acquired yesterday。 He has neither the time
nor the patience to write carefully； he does not observe； but he
listens。 Incapable of constructing a vigorously framed plot； he
sometimes makes up for it by the impetuous ardor of his drawing。 He
〃does passion；〃 to use a term of the literary argot； but instead of
awaking ideas； his heroes are simply enlarged individualities； who
excite only fugitive sympathies； they are not connected with any of
the great interests of life； and consequently they represent nothing。
Nevertheless； Nathan maintains his ground by the quickness of his
mind； by those lucky hits which billiard…players call a 〃good stroke。〃
He is the cleverest shot at ideas on the fly in all Paris。 His
fecundity is not his own； but that of his epoch； he lives on chance
events； and to control them he distorts their meaning。 In short； he is
not TRUE； his presentation is false； in him； as Comte Felix said； is
the born juggler。 Moreover； his pen gets its ink in the boudoir of an
actress。
Raoul Nathan is a fair type of the Parisian literary youth of the day；
with its false grandeurs and its real misery。 He represents that youth
by his incomplete beauties and his headlong falls； by the turbulent
torrent of his existence； with its sudden reverses and its unhoped…for
triumphs。 He is truly the child of a century consumed with envy；a
century with a thousand rivalries lurking under many a system； which
nourish to their own profit that hydra of anarchy which wants wealth
without toil； fame without talent； success without effort； but whose
vices force it； after much rebellion and many skirmishes； to accept
the budget under the powers that be。 When so many young ambitions；
starting on foot； give one another rendezvous at the same point； there
is always contention of wills； extreme wretchedness； bitter struggles。
In this dreadful battle； selfishness； the most overbearing or the most
adroit selfishness； gains the victory； and it is envied and applauded
in spite； as Moliere said； of outcries； and we all know it。
When； in his capacity as enemy to the new dynasty； Raoul was
introduced in the salon of Madame de Montcornet； his apparent
grandeurs were flourishing。 He was accepted as the political critic of
the de Marsays； the Rastignacs； and the Roche…Hugons； who had stepped
into power。 Emile Blondet； the victim of incurable hesitation and of
his i