In vain did Henry IV. issue the most positive edicts against duelling; his commands were unheeded, and his humane7 intentions invariably set at nought8. From his accession to the throne in 1589, until 1607, it was calculated that no less than four thousand gentlemen were killed in 124 affairs of honour; and we find that, in a journal of the 8th of August 1606, was to be read the following paragraph:—“Last week we had in Paris four assassinations9 and three duels10, no notice having been taken of these events.” The desperate nature of these bloody11 feuds12 was such, that whole families were destroyed. This was instanced in the case of two persons of the name of Joeilles and Devese, the former having seduced13 the wife of the latter. Devese only accepted the challenge to draw his enemy into an ambush14, with the intention of murdering him; but he fortunately escaped with a wound in the back. Having joined the army in Savoy some time after, he again sought his adversary15, who fired a pistol at him, and ran away. The King, on hearing of this offence, dismissed Devese from his regiment16, granting a permission to Joeilles “to attack him in whatever manner he thought proper, to seize upon his property and houses, and his person wherever he found him.” However, a reconciliation17 was attempted to be brought about, and the hand of a sister of Devese was to be the pledge of peace; but Joeilles, bent18 upon revenge, so managed it, that he seduced the young lady, and then refused to marry her. Her brother soon avenged19 her wrongs by waylaying20 and killing21 him, when a relation of Joeilles got him shot with a musket22 by a person of the name of D’Aubignac, In fine, one 125 girl was the only survivor23 of the two families; illustrating24, during the far-famed reign of this sovereign, the vendeta of the Corsicans.
This evil may have been justly attributed to the chivalrous25 ideas of the monarch, who acted in defiance26 of his own wise decrees; since we find him writing to his friend, Duplessis Mornay, who complained of having been insulted, “I feel much hurt upon hearing of the insult you have received, and in which I sympathise both as your sovereign and your friend. In the first capacity, I shall see justice done, both for your sake and mine; and if I only bore the second quality, you should find me most ready to draw my sword, and most cheerfully to expose my life.” Can it be surprising that such a monarch should have fallen under an assassin’s blow? In November 1594, the eldest27 son of the Duc de Guise28, having sought a quarrel with the Comte de St. Pol, ran him through the body in the streets of Rheims; yet, two years after, the King appointed that very person to the government of Provence.
Ruffians of the most sanguinary disposition29 became noted30 and respected under this popular Henry IV. One of them named Lagarde Valois, was celebrated31 for his brutal32 deeds; another quarrelsome ruffian, named Bazanez, was determined33 to have a trial of skill with him, and for this purpose sent him a hat, ornamented34 126 with feathers, and accompanied with a message, stating that he would wear it at the peril35 of his life. Lagarde immediately put the hat upon his head, and set out in quest of Bazanez, who was also looking for him in every direction. Having at last met, after an exchange of mutual36 civilities the combat began. Lagarde inflicted37 a wound on the forehead of his antagonist38; but, the head being harder than his steel, his sword was bent on the skull39: he was more fortunate in his next lounge, which penetrated40 his antagonist’s body, when he exclaimed, “This is for the hat!” Another thrust was equally successful, when he added, “And here is for the feathers!” This purchase he did not deem sufficient, and he therefore gave him a third wound, exclaiming, “And this is for the loop!” During this polite conversation, seeing the blood of his opponent streaming from his several wounds, he complimented him on the elegant fit of his hat, when Bazanez infuriated, rushed upon him, breaking through his guard, and, throwing him down, stabbed him in the throat with his dagger41, and repeated his desperate blows fourteen times in his neck, chest, and stomach; while at each stab, as the wretched man roared out for mercy, the other replied at every reiterated42 thrust, “No! no! no!” However, during this conflict, the prostrate43 Lagarde was not altogether 127 idle; he bit off a portion of his adversary’s chin, fractured his skull with the pommel of his sword, and “only lost his courage with his life.” During this scene, the seconds were amusing themselves also in fencing, until one of them was laid dead on the field of honour. This Lagarde, it appears, was as concise44 in his epistolary style as in his colloquial45 eloquence46 during a fight: the following is a copy of one of his letters to a man whom he was determined to despatch47. “I have reduced your home to ashes; I have dishonoured48 your wife, and hanged your children; and I now have the honour to be your mortal enemy,—Lagarde.”
It has already been stated, that during the reign of Henry IV. four thousand gentlemen lost their lives in single combat; and, by the statement of Daudiguier, this monarch granted fourteen thousand pardons for duelling. It was in vain that the wise Sully exerted his influence to check this execrable practice; the following extract from his Memoirs49 affords a striking illustration of the times:—
It was in consequence of the constant remonstrance50 of this minister that Henry issued various prohibitory edicts, which criminated duellists as guilty of lèse-majesté, and punished the offence with death. The edict of Blois, in 1602, not only condemned51 both the challenger and the challenged, with their seconds, to death, 128 and confiscation52 of their goods; but further ordered that all offended parties should submit their complaints to the governor of their province, to be laid before the constable53 and marshals of France. This was the origin of the jurisdiction54 of the “point of honour,” which may, however, be partly referred to an edict of Charles IX. of 1566, but which was only embodied55 as a code under Louis XIV.
Bellieme, then chancellor56 of France, maintained that duels would not cease until the King ceased to intermeddle with them; but, if left to him, he would soon put a stop to the practice by refusing a pardon to all offenders57; observing, that the most forward to fight would draw back, if, whatever were to be the issue of the duel6, they saw that death was inevitable58. Such was the course adopted by the Prince de Melfi, who commanded the army in Piedmont, and who obliged both the challengers and the offenders to fight upon a narrow bridge without rails or parapet, and guarded at both extremities59, so that there was no escaping from drowning, or being run through the body.
It appears that all these edicts, notwithstanding the severity of their formulary, were unheeded, and seldom or never carried into execution; indeed, there were as many saving clauses and loop-holes in these decrees as in any of our modern acts of parliament, through which 129 it has been truly observed, one could drive a coach and four: for instance, while duels were denounced as impious and infamous60, it was provided that the offended parties should have the power of applying to the sovereign through the marshals of France for permission to fight; another clause specified61 that “a person who demanded a battle without sufficient reason, should be dismissed with shame:” but there is not a single instance of the application of this law upon record; and D’Audiguier observes, “that as the King never granted permission to fight to any applicant62, and had frequently refused it, it was evident that there was no use in making an application, therefore the parties came to blows without any reference to authority, and were, with very few exceptions, pardoned by the royal clemency63.” Sully observes on this subject, “that the facility with which the King forgave duels tended to multiply them, and hence these fatal examples pervaded64 the court, the town, and the kingdom.”
Montaigne says on this subject, that he verily believes, “if three Frenchmen were put into the Libyan desert, they would not be a month there without quarrelling and fighting;” and Hardouin de Perefix, Bishop65 of Rhodes, observes, in his Life of Henry IV, “that the madness of duels did seize the spirits of the nobility 130 and gentry66 so much, that they lost more blood by each other’s hands in time of peace, than had been shed by their enemies in battle.” Chevalier, in his work called “Les Ombres des Defunts,” asserts that, in the province of Limousin alone, in the space of six or seven months, there were killed one hundred and twenty gentlemen.
But such is the empire of prejudice, and the contagion67 of fashion, that Sully frankly68 avows69 that he was nigh quarrelling with his royal master for having had the imprudence to consent to be present at a duel, when Henry IV. briefly70 told him that he deserved to lose his head for having dared to assume a regal power in the precincts of his court; and most probably the minister would have been disgraced, but for the interference of the ladies of the court.
In fact, these edicts, like many other criminal laws, defeated their own intention by their severity, which would have rendered their application as ferocious71 as the offences which they were to punish; they were thus rendered illusive72 in practice, however praiseworthy they might have been in theory,—the one neutralizing73 the operation of the other. Sully justly observed on this subject, “that the excessive severity of the means would be the source whence would arise the principal obstacles to their execution; and frequently the penalties which produce the greatest impression 131 are such, that one cannot apply for forgiveness.” Sully, however, failed in his laudable exertions74 to check this practice; and we shall find that Richelieu, whose power was much more formidable, did not meet with much greater success while endeavouring to crush the proud and unmanageable aristocracy of France.
In the midst of these scenes of blood, it affords some relief to find that there were individuals who dared the prejudice of public opinion, and, respecting the laws both of God and man, firmly resisted the practice. History records the instance of Monsieur de Reuly, a young officer, who could not be induced to fight a duel under any circumstances. Having once been grievously offended, he submitted the case to the decision of his generals, who determined it in his favour; but his opponent insisted upon a personal meeting, and sent him a challenge. De Reuly told the servant who brought it, that the person who had sent him was much in the wrong, and that he had received all the satisfaction which in justice or reason could be demanded. But the other still pressing and repeating his challenge, and that too with some insolent75 and provoking language, Reuly stated “that he could not accept the challenge, since God and the King had forbidden it; that he had no fear of the person who had insulted him, but feared God, and dreaded76 offending him; that 132 he would go every day abroad, as he was wont77, wherever his affairs should call him; and that, if any attack was made upon him, he would make his aggressor repent78 it.”
His adversary, unable to draw him into a duel, sought him with his second; and, having met him when only attended by his servant, attacked him, when both the principal and his second were severely79 wounded by him; and, assisted by his servant, he carried them both to his quarters, where he got their wounds dressed, and refreshed them with some wine: then, restoring to them their swords, he dismissed them, assuring them that no boasting of his should ever compromise their character; nor did he ever after speak of the transaction, even to the servant who had been present at the affair.
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1
reign
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| n.统治时期，统治，支配，盛行；v.占优势 | |
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monarch
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| n.帝王，君主，最高统治者 | |
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previously
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| adv.以前，先前（地） | |
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illustrate
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| v.举例说明，阐明；图解，加插图 | |
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monarchy
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| n.君主，最高统治者；君主政体，君主国 | |
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6
duel
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| n./v.决斗；(双方的)斗争 | |
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humane
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| adj.人道的，富有同情心的 | |
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8
nought
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| n.／adj.无，零 | |
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assassinations
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| n.暗杀( assassination的名词复数 ) | |
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duels
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| n.两男子的决斗( duel的名词复数 )；竞争，斗争 | |
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bloody
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| adj.非常的的；流血的；残忍的；adv.很；vt.血染 | |
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feuds
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| n.长期不和，世仇( feud的名词复数 ) | |
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seduced
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| 诱奸( seduce的过去式和过去分词 )； 勾引； 诱使堕落； 使入迷 | |
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ambush
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| n.埋伏(地点)；伏兵；v.埋伏；伏击 | |
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adversary
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| adj.敌手，对手 | |
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regiment
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| n.团，多数，管理；v.组织，编成团，统制 | |
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reconciliation
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| n.和解，和谐，一致 | |
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bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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avenged
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| v.为…复仇，报…之仇( avenge的过去式和过去分词 )；为…报复 | |
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20
waylaying
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| v.拦截，拦路( waylay的现在分词 ) | |
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killing
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| n.巨额利润；突然赚大钱，发大财 | |
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musket
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| n.滑膛枪 | |
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survivor
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| n.生存者，残存者，幸存者 | |
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illustrating
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| 给…加插图( illustrate的现在分词 )； 说明； 表明； （用示例、图画等）说明 | |
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chivalrous
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| adj.武士精神的；对女人彬彬有礼的 | |
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defiance
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| n.挑战，挑衅，蔑视，违抗 | |
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eldest
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| adj.最年长的，最年老的 | |
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guise
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| n.外表，伪装的姿态 | |
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disposition
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| n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署 | |
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noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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celebrated
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| adj.有名的，声誉卓著的 | |
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brutal
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| adj.残忍的，野蛮的，不讲理的 | |
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determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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ornamented
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| adj.花式字体的v.装饰，点缀，美化( ornament的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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peril
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| n.(严重的)危险；危险的事物 | |
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mutual
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| adj.相互的，彼此的；共同的，共有的 | |
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inflicted
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| 把…强加给，使承受，遭受( inflict的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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antagonist
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| n.敌人，对抗者，对手 | |
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skull
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| n.头骨；颅骨 | |
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40
penetrated
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| adj. 击穿的，鞭辟入里的 动词penetrate的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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dagger
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| n.匕首，短剑，剑号 | |
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42
reiterated
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| 反复地说，重申( reiterate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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43
prostrate
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| v.拜倒，平卧，衰竭；adj.拜倒的，平卧的，衰竭的 | |
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concise
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| adj.简洁的，简明的 | |
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45
colloquial
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| adj.口语的，会话的 | |
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46
eloquence
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| n.雄辩；口才，修辞 | |
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47
despatch
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| n./v.(dispatch)派遣；发送；n.急件；新闻报道 | |
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48
dishonoured
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| a.不光彩的，不名誉的 | |
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49
memoirs
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| n.回忆录；回忆录传( mem,自oir的名词复数) | |
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50
remonstrance
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| n抗议，抱怨 | |
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51
condemned
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| adj. 被责难的, 被宣告有罪的 动词condemn的过去式和过去分词 | |
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52
confiscation
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| n. 没收, 充公, 征收 | |
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53
constable
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| n.(英国)警察，警官 | |
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54
jurisdiction
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| n.司法权，审判权，管辖权，控制权 | |
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55
embodied
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| v.表现( embody的过去式和过去分词 )；象征；包括；包含 | |
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56
chancellor
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| n.(英)大臣；法官；(德、奥)总理；大学校长 | |
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57
offenders
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| n.冒犯者( offender的名词复数 )；犯规者；罪犯；妨害…的人（或事物） | |
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58
inevitable
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| adj.不可避免的，必然发生的 | |
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59
extremities
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| n.端点( extremity的名词复数 )；尽头；手和足；极窘迫的境地 | |
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60
infamous
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| adj.声名狼藉的，臭名昭著的，邪恶的 | |
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61
specified
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| adj.特定的 | |
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62
applicant
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| n.申请人，求职者，请求者 | |
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63
clemency
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| n.温和，仁慈，宽厚 | |
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64
pervaded
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| v.遍及，弥漫( pervade的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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bishop
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| n.主教，（国际象棋）象 | |
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gentry
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| n.绅士阶级，上层阶级 | |
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67
contagion
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| n.(通过接触的疾病)传染；蔓延 | |
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68
frankly
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| adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说 | |
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69
avows
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| v.公开声明，承认( avow的第三人称单数 ) | |
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briefly
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| adv.简单地，简短地 | |
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71
ferocious
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| adj.凶猛的，残暴的，极度的，十分强烈的 | |
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72
illusive
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| adj.迷惑人的，错觉的 | |
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73
neutralizing
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| v.使失效( neutralize的现在分词 )；抵消；中和；使（一个国家）中立化 | |
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74
exertions
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| n.努力( exertion的名词复数 )；费力；（能力、权力等的）运用；行使 | |
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insolent
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| adj.傲慢的，无理的 | |
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76
dreaded
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| adj.令人畏惧的；害怕的v.害怕，恐惧，担心( dread的过去式和过去分词) | |
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77
wont
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| adj.习惯于；v.习惯；n.习惯 | |
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repent
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| v.悔悟，悔改，忏悔，后悔 | |
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severely
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| adv.严格地；严厉地；非常恶劣地 | |
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