large/12344/historyoffrance_1807_librivox_64kb_mp3/historyoffrance_06_yonge_64kb_42
large/12344/historyoffrance_1807_librivox_64kb_mp3/historyoffrance_06_yonge_64kb
English
12344
Classical literature was studied, and Greek and Roman manners and institutions were thought ideal perfection. CLASSICAL LITERATURE WAS STUDIED AND GREEK AND ROMAN MANNERS AND INSTITUTIONS WERE THOUGHT IDEAL PERFECTION
ials attached to each member of the royal family were almost incredible in number, and all paid by the taxes. The old _gabelle_, or salt-tax, had gone on ever since the English wars, and every member of a family had to pay it, not according to what they used, but what they were supposed to need. Every pig was rated at what he ought to require for salting. Every cow, sheep, or hen had a toll to pay to king, lord, bishop--sometimes also to priest and abbey. The peasant was called off from his own work to give the dues of labour to the roads or to his lord. He might not spread manure that could interfere with the game, nor drive away the partridges that ate his corn. So scanty were his crops that famines slaying thousands passed unnoticed, and even if, by any wonder, prosperity smiled on the peasant, he durst not live in any kind of comfort, lest the stewards of his lord or of Government should pounce on his wealth. 16. Reaction.--Meantime there was a strong feeling that change must come. OINTMENT OF EACH SON THE OFFICIALS ATTACHED TO EACH MEMBER OF THE ROYAL FAMILY WERE ALMOST INCREDIBLE IN NUMBER AND ALL PAID BY THE TAXES THE OLD GABELLE OR SALT TAX HAD GONE ON EVER SINCE THE ENGLISH WARS AND EVERY MEMBER OF A FAMILY HAD TO PAY IT NOT ACCORDING TO WHAT THEY USED BUT WHAT THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO NEED EVERY PIG WAS RATED AT WHAT HE OUGHT TO REQUIRE FOR SALTING EVERY COW SHEEP OR HEN HAD AT ALL TO PAY TO KING LORD BISHOP SOMETIMES ALSO TO PRIEST AND ABBEY THE PEASANT WAS CALLED OFF FROM HIS WORK TO GIVE THE DUES OF LABOR TO THE ROADS OR TO HIS LORD HE MIGHT NOT SPREAD MANURE THAT COULD INTERFERE WITH THE GAME NOR DRIVE AWAY THE PARTRIDGES THAT ATE HIS CORN SO SCANTY WERE HIS CROPS THAT FAMINES SLAYING THOUSANDS PASSED UNNOTICED AND EVEN IF BY ANY WONDER PROSPERITY SMILED ON THE PEASANT HE DURST NOT LIVE IN ANY KIND OF COMFORT LEST THE STEWARDS OF HIS LORD OR OF GOVERNMENT SHOULD POUNCE ON HIS WEALTH SIXTEEN REACTION MEANTIME THERE WAS A STRONG FEELING THAT CHANGE MUST COME
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