ons
of vanity, a few remnants of local jurisdiction and authority, are
consequently all that is left to his ancient rivals; in exchange for
these they enjoy his favors and marks of preference.-Such, in brief, is
the history of the privileged classes, the Clergy, the Nobles, and
the King. It must be kept in mind to comprehend their situation at the
moment of their fall; having created France, they enjoy it. Let us see
clearly what becomes of them at the end of the eighteenth century; what
portion of their advantages they preserved; what services they still
render, and what services they do not render.
NOTES:
[Footnote 1101: "Les Moines d'Occident," by Montalembert, I. 277. St.
Lupicin before the Burgundian King Chilperic, II. 416. Saint Karileff
before King Childebert. Cf. passim, Gregory of Tours and the Bollandist
collection.]
[Footnote 1102: No legend is more frequently encountered; we find it as
late as the twelfth century.]
[Footnote 1103: Chilperic, for example, acting under the advice of
Fredegonde after the death of all their children.]
[Footnote 1104: Montalembert, ibid., II. book 8; and especially "Les
Forets de la France dans l'antiquite et au Moyen Age," by Alfred Maury.
Spinoe et vepres is a phrase constantly recurring in the lives of the
saints.]
[Footnote 1105: We find the same thing to day with the colonies of
Trappists in Algiers.]
[Footnote 1106: "Polyptique d'Irminon," by Guerard. In this work we see
the prosperity of the domain belonging to the Abbey of St. Germain
des Pres at the end of the eighth century. According to M. Guerard's
statistics, the peasantry of Paliseau were about as prosperous in the
time of Charlemagne as at the present day.]
[Footnote 1107: Taine's definition would also fit contemporary (1999)
drugs and video entertainment which also provide mankind with both hope,
pleasure and entertainment. (SR.)]
[Footnote 1108: There are twenty-five thousand lives of the
saints, between the sixth and the tenth centuries, collected by the
Bollandists.--The last that are truly inspired are those of St. Francis
of Assisi and his companions at the beginning of the fourteenth century.
The same vivid sentiment extends down to the end of the fifteenth
century in the works of Fra Angelico and Hans Memling.--The Sainte
Chapelle in Paris, the upper church at Assisi, Dante's Paradise, and
the Fioretti, furnish an idea of these visions. As regards modern
literature, the state of a b
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