A Popular History of France from the Earliest Times, Volume 4Guizot, François
History
A Popular History of France from the Earliest Times, Volume 4
Guizot, François
France -- History
2. “To the Emperor Charles V.: If liberty had been sooner granted
me by my cousin the viceroy, I should not have delayed so long to do
my duty towards you, according as the time and the circumstances in
which I am placed require; having no other comfort under my
misfortune than a reliance on your goodness, which, if it so please,
shall employ the results of victory with honorableness towards me;
having steadfast hope that your virtue would not willingly constrain
me to anything that was not honorable; entreating you to consult
your own heart as to what you shall be pleased to do with me;
feeling sure that the will of a prince such as you are cannot be
coupled with aught but honor and magnanimity. Wherefore, if it
please you to have so much honorable pity as to answer for the
safety which a captive King of France deserves to find, whom there
is a desire to render friendly and not desperate, you may be sure of
obtaining an acquisition instead of a useless prisoner, and of
making a King of France your slave forever.”
The former of these two letters has had its native hue somewhat altered
in the majority of histories, in which it has been compressed into those
eloquent words, “All is lost save honor.” The second needs no comment to
make apparent what it lacks of kingly pride and personal dignity.
Beneath the warrior’s heroism there was in the qualities of Francis I.
more of what is outwardly brilliant and winning than of real strength and
solidity.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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