Prostate Health
Prostate Articles
Antioxidant levels key for prostate cancer risk
Obesity and prostate health
Tomatoes for prostate health
Green tea and prostate health
Screening tests for prostate
Books
The Three Musketeers
Twenty Years Later
The Vicomte De Bragelonne
|
|
The Vicomte De Bragelonne 46 at Prostate Health
all price.Now, sire, I have been all my life -- I feel bound to say it-- except at the present time, appreciated, in my opinion,much below my value. I therefore repeat, your majestyexaggerates."The king knitted his brow, for he saw a bitter raillerybeneath the words of the officer. "Come, monsieur," said he,"let us meet the question frankly. Are you dissatisfied withmy service, say? No evasions; speak boldly, frankly -- Icommand you to do so."The officer, who had been twisting his hat about in hishands, with an embarrassed air, for several minutes, raisedhis head at these words. "Oh! sire," said he, "that puts mea little more at my ease. To a question put so frankly, Iwill reply frankly. To tell the truth is a good thing, asmuch from the pleasure one feels in relieving ones heart,as on account of the rarity of the fact. I will speak thetruth, then, to my king, at the same time imploring him toexcuse the frankness of an old soldier."Louis looked at his officer with anxiety, which hemanifested by the agitation of his gesture. "Well, thenspeak," said he, "for I am impatient to hear the truths youhave to tell me."The officer threw his hat upon a table, and his countenance,always so intelligent and martial, assumed, all at once, astrange character of grandeur and solemnity. "Sire," saidhe, "I quit the kings service because I am dissatisfied.The valet, in these times, can approach his master asrespectfully as I do, can give him an account of his labor,bring back his tools, return the funds that have beenintrusted to him, and say, `Master, my days work is done.Pay me, if you please, and let us part.""Monsieur! monsieur!" exclaimed the king, crimson with rage."Ah! sire," replied the officer, bending his knee for amoment, "never was servant more respectful than I am beforeyour majesty; only you commanded me to tell the truth. Now Ihave begun to tell it, it must come out, even if you commandme to hold my tongue."There was so much resolution expressed in the deep-sunkmuscles of the officers countenance, that Louis XIV. had nooccasion to tell him to continue; he continued, therefore,whilst the king looked at him with a curiosity mingled withadmiration."Sire, I have, as I have said, now served the house ofFrance thirty-five years; few people have worn out so manyswords in that service as I have, and the swords I speak ofwere good swords, too, sire. I was a boy, ignorant ofeverything except courage, when the king your father guessedthat there was a man in me. I was a man, sire, when theCardinal de Richelieu, who was a judge of manhood,discovered an enemy in me. Sire, the history of that enmitybetween the ant and the lion may be read from the first tothe last line, in the secret archives of your family. Ifever you feel an inclination to know it, do so, sire; thehistory is worth the trouble -- it is I who tell you so. Youwill there read that the lion, fatigued, harassed, out ofbreath, at length cried for quarter, and the justice must berendered him to say that he gave as much as he required. Oh!those were glorious times, sire, strewed over with battleslike one of Tassos or Ariostos epics. The wonders of thosetimes, to which the people of ours would refuse belief, wereevery-day occurrences. For five years together, I was a heroevery day; at least, so I was told by persons of judgment;and that is a long period for heroism, trust me, sire, aperiod of five years. Nevertheless, I have faith in whatthese people told me, for they were good judges. They werenamed M. de Richelieu, M. de Buckingham, M. de Beaufort, M.de Retz, a mighty genius himself in street warfare, -- inshort, the king, Louis XIII., and even the queen, your noblemother, who one day condescended to say, `Thank you. Idont know what service I had had the good fortune to renderher. Pardon me, sire, for speaking so boldly; but what Irelate to you, as I have already had the honor to tell yourmajesty, is history."The king bit his lips, and threw himself violently on achair."I appear importunate to your majesty," said the lieutenant."Eh! sire, that is the fate of truth; she is
The Vicomte De Bragelonne page 45 The Vicomte De Bragelonne page 47 |
