A king does not allow himself to soften save at the tears of the innocent, the remorse of the guilty.

I have no faith either in the remorse of M.Fouquet or the tears of his friends, because the one is tainted to the very heart, and the others ought to dread offending me in my own palace.

For these reasons, I beg you, Monsieur Pelisson, Monsieur Gourville, and you, Monsieur--, to say nothing that will not plainly proclaim the respect you have for my will." "Sire," replied Pelisson, trembling at these words, "we are come to say nothing to your majesty that is not the most profound expression of the most sincere respect and love that are due to a king from all his subjects.

Your majesty's justice is redoubtable; every one must yield to the sentences it pronounces.

We respectfully bow before it.