按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
succeeding cycle of its history。 So luminous was his mind； so profound
and far…reaching his sympathy； that he understood the obscure workings of
the mediaeval mind as clearly as he appreciated Mirabeau's transcendent
genius。 He believed that humanity； like Prometheus； was self…made； that
nations modelled their own destiny during the actions and reactions of
history； as each one of us acquires a personality through the struggles and
temptations of existence； by the evolving power every soul carries within
itself。
Michelet taught that each nation was the hero of its own drama； that
great men have not been different from the rest of their race … on the
contrary； being the condensation of an epoch； that； no matter what the
apparent eccentricities of a leader may have been； he was the expression
of a people's spirit。 This discovery that a race is transformed by its action
upon itself and upon the elements it absorbs from without； wipes away at a
stroke the popular belief in 〃predestined races〃 or providential 〃great men〃
appearing at crucial moments and riding victorious across the world。
An historian； if what he writes is to have any value； must know the
people； the one great historical factor。 Radicalism in history is the
beginning of truth。 Guided by this light of his own； Michelet discovered a
fresh factor heretofore unnoticed； that vast fermentation which in France
transforms all foreign elements into an integral part of the country's being。
After studying his own land through the thirteen centuries of her growth；
from the chart of Childebert to the will of Louis XVI。； Michelet declared
that while England is a composite empire and Germany a region； France is
a personality。 In consequence he regarded the history of his country as a
long dramatic poem。 Here we reach the inner thought of the historian； the
secret impulse that guided his majestic pen。
The veritable hero of his splendid Iliad is at first ignorant and obscure；
182
… Page 183…
THE WAYS OF MEN
seeking passionately like OEdipus to know himself。 The interest of the
piece is absorbing。 We can follow the gradual development of his nature as
it becomes more attractive and sympathetic with each advancing age； until；
through the hundred acts of the tragedy； he achieves a soul。 For Michelet
to write the history of his country was to describe the long evolution of a
hero。 He was fond of telling his friends that during the Revolution of July；
while he was making his translation of Vico； this great fact was revealed to
him in the blazing vision of a people in revolt。 At that moment the young
and unknown author resolved to devote his life； his talents； his gift of
clairvoyance； the magic of his inimitable style and creative genius； to
fixing on paper the features seen in his vision。
Conceived and executed in this spirit； his history could be but a
stupendous epic； and proves once again the truth of Aristotle's assertion
that there is often greater truth in poetry than in prose。
Seeking in the remote past for the origin of his hero； Michelet pauses
first before THE CATHEDRAL。 The poem begins like some mediaeval
tale。 The first years of his youthful country are devoted to a mystic
religion。 Under his ardent hands vast naves rise and belfries touch the
clouds。 It is but a sad and cramped development； however； statutes restrain
his young ardor and chill his blood。 It is not until the boy is behind the
plough in the fields and sunlight that his real life begins … a poor； brutish
existence； if you will； but still life。 The 〃Jacques；〃 half man and half beast；
of the Middle Ages is the result of a thousand years of suffering。
A woman's voice calls this brute to arms。 An enemy is overrunning the
land。 Joan the virgin … 〃my Joan；〃 Michelet calls her … whose heart bleeds
when blood is shed； frees her country。 A shadow； however； soon obscures
this gracious vision from Jacques's eyes。 The vast monarchical incubus
rises between the people and their ideal。 Our historian turns in disgust
from the later French kings。 He has neither time nor heart to write their
history； so passes quickly from Louis XI。 to the great climax of his drama …
the Revolution。 There we find his hero； emerging at last from tyranny and
oppression。 Freedom and happiness are before him。 Alas！ his eyes；
accustomed to the dim light of dungeons； are dazzled by the sun of liberty；
he strikes friend and foe alike。
183
… Page 184…
THE WAYS OF MEN
In the solitary galleries of the 〃Archives〃 Michelet communes with the
great spirits of that day； Desaix； Marceau； Kleber； … elder sons of the
Republic； who whisper many secrets to their pupil as he turns over faded
pages tied with tri…colored ribbons； where the cities of France have written
their affection for liberty； love…letters from Jacques to his mistress。
Michelet is happy。 His long labor is drawing to an end。 The great epic
which he has followed as it developed through the centuries is complete。
His hero stands hand in hand before the altar with the spouse of his choice；
for whose smile he has toiled and struggled。 The poet…historian sees again
in the FETE DE LA FEDERATION the radiant face of his vision； the true
face of France； LA DULCE。
Through all the lyricism of this master's work one feels that he has
〃lived〃 history as he wrote it； following his subject from its obscure
genesis to a radiant apotheosis。 The faithful companion of Michelet's age
has borne witness to this power which he possessed of projecting himself
into another age and living with his subject。 She repeats to those who
know her how he trembled in passion and burned with patriotic emotion in
transcribing the crucial pages of his country's history； rejoicing in her
successes and depressed by her faults； like the classic historian who
refused with horror to tell the story of his compatriots' defeat at Cannae；
saying； 〃I could not survive the recital。〃
〃Do you remember；〃 a friend once asked Madame Michelet； 〃how；
when your husband was writing his chapters on the Reign of Terror； he
ended by falling ill？〃
〃Ah； yes！〃