CHAPTER I.The Period

rsisteroftheshieldandtrident,rolledwithexceedingsmoothnessdownhill,makingpapermoneyandspendingit.UndertheguidanceofherChristianpastors,sheentertainedherself,besides,withsuchhumaneachievementsassentencingayouthtohavehishandscutoff,histonguetornoutwithpincers,andhisbodyburnedalive,becausehehadnotkneeleddownintheraintodohonourtoadirtyprocessionofmonkswhichpassedwithinhisview,atadistanceofsomefiftyorsixtyyards.Itislikelyenoughthat,rootedinthewoodsofFranceandNorway,thereweregrowingtrees,whenthatsuffererwasputtodeath,alreadymarkedbytheWoodman,Fate,tocomedownandbesawnintoboards,tomakeacertainmovableframeworkwithasackandaknifeinit,terribleinhistory.ItislikelyenoughthatintheroughouthousesofsometillersoftheheavylandsadjacenttoParis,therewereshelteredfromtheweatherthatveryday,rudecarts,bespatteredwithrusticmire,snuffedaboutbypigs,androostedinbypoultry,whichtheFarmer,Death,hadalreadysetaparttobehistumbrilsoftheRevolution.ButthatWoodmanandthatFarmer,thoughtheyworkunceasingly,worksilently,andnooneheardthemastheywentaboutwithmuffledtread:therather,forasmuchastoentertainanysuspicionthattheywereawake,wastobeatheisticalandtraitorous. InEngland,therewasscarcelyanamountoforderandprotectiontojustifymuchnationalboasting.Daringburglariesbyarmedmen,andhighwayrobberies,tookplaceinthecapitalitselfeverynightfamilieswerepubliclycautionednottogooutoftownwithoutremovingtheirfurnituretoupholsterers’warehousesforsecuritythehighwaymaninthedarkwasaCitytradesmaninthelight,and,beingrecognisedandchallengedbyhisfellow-tradesmanwhomhestoppedinhischaracterof“theCaptain,”gallantlyshothimthroughtheheadan