Stranica 238 [238]
LABOULÁAYE 5 PFÁALRY BOOK
with tapestry, surmounted by Justice, with her eyes ban¬
daged and her scales in her hand.
On the pedestal of the statue was written,
TO THE FATHER OF HIS PEOPLE,
THE BEST AND WISEST OF PRINCES
A host of priests, statesmen, and magistrates, in robes of
all colors, represented Religion, Wisdom, and Virtue; at
least so said these venerable and discreet personages, who
are never 1n error.
Last came an Immense arch, a true military trophy,
bearing as its motto,
TO THE BOLDEST AND MOST VALIANT OF KINGS
Here the army awaited its general, and the queen was
saluted by the majestic voice of a hundred cannon and two
hundred drums—a voice before which all human eloquence
falters, and which always has the last word.
I spare you a description of the dinner, which was inter¬
minable, and of sixty more speeches from the court gazette,
where they had already done service two or three times,
and wherein they were again deposited for the use of future
generations. There is nothing so monotonous as happi¬
ness, and we must be indulgent to those who sing its praises
officially. In such cases, the ablest is he who says the least.
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