Page 1777 - les-miserables

CHAPTER III

A BURIAL; AN OCCASION

TO BE BORN AGAIN

In the spring of 1832, although the cholera had been chill-
ing all minds for the last three months and had cast over
their agitation an indescribable and gloomy pacification,
Paris had already long been ripe for commotion. As we have
said, the great city resembles a piece of artillery; when it
is loaded, it suffices for a spark to fall, and the shot is dis-
charged. In June, 1832, the spark was the death of General
Lamarque.
Lamarque was a man of renown and of action. He had
had in succession, under the Empire and under the Resto-
ration, the sorts of bravery requisite for the two epochs, the
bravery of the battle-field and the bravery of the tribune. He
was as eloquent as he had been valiant; a sword was discern-
ible in his speech. Like Foy, his predecessor, after upholding
the command, he upheld liberty; he sat between the left and
the extreme left, beloved of the people because he accepted
the chances of the future, beloved of the populace because
he had served the Emperor well; he was, in company with

1777