Page 1396 - les-miserables

murmurs, sleep, tumult, and which are nothing else than
the arrival of a great nation at a halting-place.
These epochs are peculiar and mislead the politicians
who desire to convert them to profit. In the beginning, the
nation asks nothing but repose; it thirsts for but one thing,
peace; it has but one ambition, to be small. Which is the
translation of remaining tranquil. Of great events, great
hazards, great adventures, great men, thank God, we have
seen enough, we have them heaped higher than our heads.
We would exchange Caesar for Prusias, and Napoleon for
the King of Yvetot. ‘What a good little king was he!’ We
have marched since daybreak, we have reached the evening
of a long and toilsome day; we have made our first change
with Mirabeau, the second with Robespierre, the third with
Bonaparte; we are worn out. Each one demands a bed.
Devotion which is weary, heroism which has grown old,
ambitions which are sated, fortunes which are made, seek,
demand, implore, solicit, what? A shelter. They have it. They
take possession of peace, of tranquillity, of leisure; behold,
they are content. But, at the same time certain facts arise,
compel recognition, and knock at the door in their turn.
These facts are the products of revolutions and wars, they
are, they exist, they have the right to install themselves in
society, and they do install themselves therein; and most
of the time, facts are the stewards of the household and
fouriers[32] who do nothing but prepare lodgings for prin-
ciples.
[32] In olden times, fouriers were the officials who pre-
ceded the Court and allotted the lodgings.

1396 Les Miserables