Page 1970 - les-miserables

CHAPTER I

THE CHARYBDIS

OF THE FAUBOURG

SAINT ANTOINE AND

THE SCYLLA OF THE

FAUBOURG DU TEMPLE

The two most memorable barricades which the observer
of social maladies can name do not belong to the period in
which the action of this work is laid. These two barricades,
both of them symbols, under two different aspects, of a re-
doubtable situation, sprang from the earth at the time of
the fatal insurrection of June, 1848, the greatest war of the
streets that history has ever beheld.
It sometimes happens that, even contrary to principles,
even contrary to liberty, equality, and fraternity, even con-
trary to the universal vote, even contrary to the government,
by all for all, from the depths of its anguish, of its discour-
agements and its destitutions, of its fevers, of its distresses,

1970 Les Miserables