exhausted all its sap, all its vigor .-- You know history, sir ?" asked Bonaparte, turning to the young man.
"Yes, general," he replied; "at least as well as a _ci-devant_ can know it." "Well, you must have observed in history, especially in that of France, that each race has its point of departure, its culmination, and its decadence.

Look at the direct line of the Capets; starting from Hugues Capet, they attained their highest grandeur in Philippe Auguste and Louis XI., and fell with Philippe V.and Charles IV.

Take the Valois; starting with Philippe VI., they culminated in Francois I.and fell with Charles IX.

and Henry III.

See the Bourbons; starting with Henry IV., they have their culminating point in Louis XIV.