The Memoirs of François René Vicomte de Chateaubriand sometime Ambassador to England. Volume 6 (of 6): Mémoires d'outre-tombe volume 6Chateaubriand, François-René, vicomte de
General
The Memoirs of François René Vicomte de Chateaubriand sometime Ambassador to England. Volume 6 (of 6): Mémoires d'outre-tombe volume 6
Chateaubriand, François-René, vicomte de
Chateaubriand, François-René, vicomte de, 1768-1848
I received, from my Patron, poverty, the love of the small and humble,
compassion for animals; but my barren stick will not change into an
evergreen oak to protect them. I ought to think myself lucky to have
trodden French soil on my saint's-day; but have I a country? Have I
ever, in that country, enjoyed a moment of rest? On the 6th of October,
in the morning, I returned to my Infirmary. The gale of St. Francis was
still blowing. My trees, the budding refuges of the miseries collected
by my wife, bent before the anger of my Patron. In the evening, through
the branchy elms of my boulevard, I saw the hanging street-lamps shaken
to and fro, their half-extinguished lights flickering like the little
lamp of my life[282].
[239] This book was written on the road from Padua to Prague, from
20 to 26 September 1833, and on the road from Prague to Paris, from
26 September to 6 October.--T.
[240] Columbus first touched land in America at Guanahani, one of
the Bahama Islands, on the 12th of October 1492. The island is
called "Watling's Island" on the English maps: it is possible to
vulgarize most things; Christopher was content to christen it San
Salvador.--T.
[241] Richard Lemon Lander (1804-1834) made several journeys of
discovery in Africa, penetrated to the mouth of the Niger in 1831
and settled the question of its course and outlet. He returned to
the Nun mouth in 1833, when he was fired upon by the natives and
struck by a musket-ball in the thigh. He was removed to Fernando
Po, where he died in February 1834.--T.
[242] Hazlitt's MONTAIGNE: _A Journey into Italy._--T.
[243] Chateaubriand: _Tombeaux champêtres_, 52-53, imitated from
Gray's _Elegy written in a Country Church-yard. Cf._ 57-60:
"Some village-Hampden, that with dauntless breast
The little Tyrant of his fields withstood,
Some mute inglorious Milton here may rest,
Some Cromwell guiltless of his country's blood."--T.
[244] Saint Rupert Bishop of Worms (_fl. circa_ 700), known as the
Apostle of the Bavarians from his missionary labours at Ratisbon,
Salzburg, etc.--T.
[245] _Cf._ Vol. I., p. 21.--T.
[246] _Ibid._--T.
[247] _Cf._ Vol. V., p. 354.--T.
[248] Maroboduus, or Marbod, King of the Marcomanni (_b._ 18 B.C.),
mentioned in Tacitus.--T.
[249] _Cf._ Vol. V., p. 346.--T.
[250] _Ibid._, p. 347.--T.
[251] _Ibid._, p. 353.--T.
[252] _Ibid._, p. 350.--T.
[253] _Cf._ p. 38, n. 2, _supra._--T.
[254] During the summer and part of the autumn, the Royal Family used
to live at Butschirad, a lonely and gloomy residence, situated in a
dull and desolate country, about five hours' drive from Prague.--B.
[255] _Cf._ Vol. I., p. 88.--T.
[256] _Ibid._, pp. 74 _et seq._--T.
[257] _Ibid._, pp. 81 _et seq._--T.
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