[Burlesques by William Makepeace Thackeray]@TWC D-Link bookBurlesques CHAPTER II 1/14
CHAPTER II. HENRY V.AND NAPOLEON III. Sunday, February 30th. We resume our quotations from the Debats, which thus introduces a third pretender to the throne:-- "Is this distracted country never to have peace? While on Friday we recorded the pretensions of a maniac to the great throne of France; while on Saturday we were compelled to register the culpable attempts of one whom we regard as a ruffian, murderer, swindler, forger, burglar, and common pickpocket, to gain over the allegiance of Frenchmen--it is to-day our painful duty to announce a THIRD invasion--yes, a third invasion.
The wretched, superstitious, fanatic Duke of Bordeaux has landed at Nantz, and has summoned the Vendeans and the Bretons to mount the white cockade. "Grand Dieu! are we not happy under the tricolor? Do we not repose under the majestic shadow of the best of kings? Is there any name prouder than that of Frenchman; any subject more happy than that of our sovereign? Does not the whole French family adore their father? Yes.
Our lives, our hearts, our blood, our fortune, are at his disposal: it was not in vain that we raised, it is not the first time we have rallied round, the august throne of July.
The unhappy Duke is most likely a prisoner by this time; and the martial court which shall be called upon to judge one infamous traitor and pretender, may at the same moment judge another. Away with both! let the ditch of Vincennes (which has been already fatal to his race) receive his body, too, and with it the corpse of the other pretender.
Thus will a great crime be wiped out of history, and the manes of a slaughtered martyr avenged! "One word more.
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