The orator then gives an inftance of fome military action. That great man attacked all the forces of Germany with a few troops. The battle was obftinate and doubtful. At length the enemy began to retire. The French cry out, victory is fure. But M. Turenne fays to them, Hold, our fate is not in our own power, and we ourselves shall be vanquished, if the Lord does not affift us; and fo turning his eyes to heaven, he waits for the victory from God alone.

Here the orator adds a brief common place, to fhew how hard it is to be victorious, and humble at the fame time. Two thoughts, which must be variously turned, and reprefented in different lights, form this common place. It is ufual for a conqueror to afcribe the victory to himself, and to look upon himself as the author of it; and though he returns God public thanks for it, it is however to be feared, he secretly referves to himself some share of the glory which is due to God alone.

M. Turenne did not act in that manner. When he marches, when he defends a place, when he is intrenched, when he fights, when he triumphs, he expects all from, and refers every thing to, God. Each part must have a peculiar thought.

"M. Turenne has fhewn, that courage is of more "exalted force, when fupported by religious princi"ples; that there is a pious magnanimity which in

duces fuccefs in spite of dangers and obftacles; and "that a warrior, whofe foul is infpired with faith, " and lifts up pure hands to the God of battles who "directs them, is invincible.

"As M. Turenne owes all his glory to God, fo he "refers it all to him, and has no other confidence, "but that which is founded in the name of the Lord. "Why cannot I here relate one of thofe important "actions, in which he attacked all the forces of "Germany with a few troops! he marches three days,

C6 paffes three rivers, comes up with the enemy, "fights them. Numbers on one fide, and valour on "the other, hold fortune long in fufpence. At laft 66 courage repels the multitude; the enemy are con"fused and begin to retire. The cry of victory is "heard. The general then fufpends all the emotions which the heat of battle excites, and fays with a "fevere tone; Hold, our fate is not in our own hands, "and we ourselves shall be defeated, if the Lord does "not affift us. At thefe words, he turns his eyes to"wards heaven, whence he receives affiftance; and ❝ continuing to give his orders, waits fubmiffively, be"tween hope and fear, the decifions of heaven.

"How difficult is it, to be victorious and humble

at the fame time! The fucceffes of war leave, I "know not what fenfible pleasure in the foul, which "fills and poffeffes it entirely. We afcribe to our"felves a fuperiority of power and ftrength: we crown "ourselves with our own hands: we form a fecret, "triumph within ourselves: we look upon those laurels "which are gathered with labour and pains, and are "often bedewed with our blood, as our property; "and even when we give God folemn thanks, and "hang up in churches the torn and bloody colours of "the enemy; what danger is there that vanity may "fupprefs fome part of the acknowledgment; that we mingle the applauses we imagine our own due, "with the vows we make to the Lord; and referve 66 to ourselves fome fmall portion of the incense we are going to burn upon his altars!

"It was on thefe occafions, that M. Turenne di" vefting himself of all his pretenfions afcribed all the "glory to him alone to whom it rightfully belongs. "If he marches, he acknowledges it is God that con"ducts and guides him. If he defends ftrong holds, "he is fenfible the enemy will difpoffefs him of them, "if God is not on his fide. If he is intrenched, he "thinks God makes a rampart to fecure him from "all infults. If he fights, he knows from whence

"he

"he derives all his ftrength; and if he triumphs, he "thinks he fees an invifible hand crowning him from " heaven."

I fhall here fubjoin fome paffages extracted from the beft authors, which feem very proper to form the tafte of youth, both for ftudy and compofition. What generally gives the greatest beauty to difcourfes of the demonftrative kind, are defcriptions, parallels, and common places. In order to know all their art and delicacy, we have nothing to do, but to divest them of all ornaments, and exprefs them in a common and ordinary manner; 'tis that I call the reducing of things to a fimple propofition. I fhall endeavour to give examples of this in each kind.

DESCRIPTION S.

I. The retired life of M. de Lamoignon in the country, during vacations.

A fimple propofition. I wish I could reprefent him to you, when he went to pass the vacation at Bafville, after all his labours and fatigues in the court of judicature. You would then fee him fometimes employed in husbandry; fometimes meditating on the harangues he was to make at the opening of the court; fometimes reconciling the differences of the peasants in one of the alleys of his garden.

6 d Why cannot I reprefent him to you as he was, when he went to lay afide the burthen of his emແ ployment, and to enjoy a noble repofe, in his retreat at Bafville, after a tedious fatigue; at a diftance from the noife of the town, and the hurry "of bufinefs? You would fee him apply himself fome"times to the innocent amufements of husbandry, raifing his thoughts to the invifible things of God, by the vifible wonders of nature. Sometimes meditating upon the eloquent and folid difcourfes, which taught and infpired juftice every year; in

«

which

The funeral oration of M. de Lamoignon by M. Fléchier. VOL. II.

C

"which he defcribed himself, without defign, by ❝forming the idea of a good man. Sometimes re"conciling differences which animofity, jealoufy, or ❝evil counsel occafion among country people; better cc pleased, and perhaps greater before God, when he " established the repofe of a poor family, at the bot"tom of a fhady walk, and upon a tribunal of turf, "than when he difpofed of the most splendid fortunes on the fupreme feat of juftice."

II. The modefty of M. Turenne. His private life.

A fimple propofition. No perfon ever spoke more modeftly of himself than M. Turenne. He related his most surprising victories, as if he had had no share in them. At his return from the most glorious campaigns, he avoided praife, and was afraid of appearing in the King's prefence, for fear of applaufe. It was then, in a private ftate, among a few friends, he exercised himself in the virtues of civil life. He conceals himself, and walks without attendance or equipage but every one obferves and admires him.

cr

Who ever performed fuch great exploits, and ∞ who more referved in speaking of them? When he cc gained an advantage, he himself afcribed it to the enemy's overfight, and not to his own abilities. "When he gave an account of a battle, he forgot cc nothing, but its being gained by his own conduct, "If he related any of those actions which had ren-ader'd him fo famous, one would have concluded, " he had only been a bare spectator, and might doubt " whether he himself or fame were mistaken. When "he returned from thofe glorious campaigns, which "immortalize him, he avoided all acclamations of "the people; he blushed at his victories; he receiv"ed applaufes with the fame air that others make "apologies, and was almoft afraid of waiting upon the King, being obliged, through refpect, to hear

M. Turenne's funeral oration, by M, Flechier.

"patiently

"patiently the encomiums with which his Majefty cc never failed to honour him."

"It was then, in the calm repofe of a private "state, that this Prince, divesting himself of all the glory he had acquired in the field, and shutting "himself up with a small company of chosen friends, "practifed in filence the virtues of civil life: fincere in "his words, plain in his actions, faithful in friendship, "exact in duties, regular in his wishes, and great, ❝even in the minuteft things. He conceals him"self; but his fame difcovers him. He walks with"out attendance; but every one images him riding "in a triumphal chariot. When People fee him, they count the number of the enemies he has conquered, and not the attendants that follow him. "Though alone, they conceive him furrounded with "his attendant virtues and victories. There is fomething inexpreffibly great and noble in this virtuous cc fimplicity; and the less haughty he is, the more ve-` "nerable he appears."

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III. The honourable reception M. de Turenne met with from the King, upon his return from the campaign. His modefty.

A fimple propofition. Renowned captains under the Roman Emperors were obliged, upon their return from the field, to avoid meeting their friends; and to come into the city by night, that they might not excite the jealoufy of the Prince, who used to receive them with great coldnefs; after which they stood undiftinguished in the crowd. M. Turenne had the good fortune to live under a King, who bestowed the highest applaufes upon him, and, had he been defirous of riches, would have lavished them upon him. He returned from the field as a private perfon comes from taking a walk. The looks, the praifes, the acclamations of all the people made no impreffion on him.