Ranging far and dying free.
Flowers shall shine and laurels nod
O’er the gay, the bold, the canny;
Larks upsoaring from the sod,
Swell their songs in praise of Fanny.
APPENDIX.
The crime of Cinq Mars consisted in his treating all means as allowable, provided they had for end the favourite’s downfall; his treason to Louis; his appeal to Spain. The fault of De Thou lay in his preference to an individual over his country, in private affections too strong for public virtues. An extract from Montresor’s Memoirs, detailing the last days of their lives, must find a place here. By translating closely, I have tried as much as possible to preserve the manner of the quaint original—“Journal of all which took place in Lyons during the Proceedings instituted for the Trial of Messrs. de Cinq Mars and de Thou.”
‘Monsieur de Cinq Mars arrived at Lyons the 4th of September of the present year 1642, about two hours after noon, in a coach drawn by four horses, in which were four gardes du corps carrying their muskets, and surrounded by foot guards, belonging to the Cardinal Duke’s household, to the number of one hundred. Before the carriage marched two hundred horsemen, for the most part Catalonians, and three hundred more well mounted followed. Monsieur le Grand[[1]] was attired in musk coloured cloth of Holland covered over with gold embroidery, having a scarlet cloak with large silver buttons. Being arrived on the bridge which crosses the Rhone before entering the town, he asked Monsieur de Ceton,[[2]] lieutenant of the Scotch guards, if he permitted that the coach should be closed. This was refused him, and he was conducted to the bridge of St. Jean, thence to the Exchange and by the Rue de Flandres to the foot of the castle of Pierre Encise. As he passed along the streets, continually showing himself at the carriage door, he saluted the crowd with a smiling countenance, leaning half out of the coach, and even recognized many to whom he bowed, calling them by name. Arrived beneath Pierre Encise, he was surprised when told he must descend, and mount on horseback to arrive at the castle by a road which skirted the town: “This then,” he said, “will be the last time.” He had imagined that orders were given to conduct him to Vincennes, and had several times asked the guards if would be permitted hunting when arrived there.
‘His prison was situated at the foot of the great tower, having for only view that from the two narrow windows which looked on a small garden, beneath which were stationed guards, as well as in his chamber, where Monsieur Ceton with four soldiers lay, in that adjoining and without all the doors.