Alfred de Rosann by G.W.M. Reynolds — page 102: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

Alfred de Rosann. 81 the speculations of the past and the idealities of the future. It was not the sweet voice of the cottage girl that had worked this enchantment ; but it was the extraordinary degree of excitement which the name, song, and previous conversation, that had turned upon the praises of Napoleon, produced in a mind, which had been taught from infancy to regard the Emperor as something more than man—and almost to reverence him as a god. And when we reflect on the vast and varied accomplishments of the deceased hero—when our eyes scan the long catalogue of glorious victories which have made for him a reputation * more durable than brass’’—when we think of the loftiness of soul that embraced the most wonderful designs, that defied as light obstacles those mundane diffi- culties which other men consider insurmountable barriers to the attain- ment of their wishes—whether we regard him as a statesman, or as a warrior, our admiration must be the same—and while we condemn him as a tyrant, we may well excuse those sentiments of pride with which the Frenchman boasts of him as a commander and as a politician. All have their faults—and he had many: but in perusing the history of his chequered existence, it must be remembered that the smallest delin- quences of an exalted character are invariably registered with his virtues ; and that the higher the rank of the individual, the more eager is mankind to detect his peccadilloes and expose his inadvertencies. sd CHAPTER XII. ADVENTURES. So entirely had Jeannette’s song engrossed the attention of the inmates of the cottage, that the soup remained hitherto untouched, and an hour slipped away without being perceived. But the fresh air of the fields, which had sharpened the appetite of the peasant, was not to be encountered by an empty stomach: and the potage soon began to dis- appear from his plate. Jeannette, Belle-Rose, and the grandmother, followed Claude’s example; and De Rosann, aroused from his heroic delirium by an unceremonious shake from his companions, was fain to imitate the rest. Scarcely, however, was the frugal meal concluded, when a loud knock at the door startled our hero and Belle-Rose: but their alarms were speedily dissipated ; for instead of a tall police officer, with clanking weapons, a lad of about fifteen entered the cottage. ‘‘ Well! what possesses the boy,” cried the old woman in a cross tone, “to knock at the wicket, as if he were a fine gentleman who must be invited to enter with all due ceremony: and how is it that you are so late? But sit down, Jacques,” continued the hag, suffering her voice to relax into a less severe tone than she had at first assumed, ‘and eat your dinner. Jeannette, give your brother a plate, my girl— and let him tel] us all the news afterwards.” ‘‘ News, indeed !” exclaimed the boy, seating himself near the table, at a respectful distance from his father’s guests, whom he eyed from time to time with embarrassment, not knowing whether he might converse freely, or not, in their presence. COnicbooolks (GO)