You see all these young men around us have joined rather in the spirit of knight errants than that of soldiers.

Each hopes to distinguish himself, not for the sake of advancing his military career, but simply that he may stand well in the eyes of some court beauty.

The campaign once over, they will return to Paris, and think no more of military service until another campaign led by a prince of the blood like Enghien takes place, when they will again take up arms and fight in his company.
"Such campaigns as those under Turenne in Italy would be distasteful in the extreme to them.

They would doubtless bear the hardships as unflinchingly as we professional soldiers, but as soon as they could with honour retire you may be sure they would do so.

It is well for us that they should.