Chapter 18
Volume 2: 2: Cosette · Book 1: 1: Waterloo
18: Recrudescence of Divine Right
Chapter 18Visible text2 paragraphs
END of the dictatorship. The whole European system fell.
The empire sank into a darkness which resembled that of the expiring Roman world. It rose again from the depths, as in the time of the Barbarians. Only, the barbarism of 1815, which should be called by its special name, the counter-revolution, was short-winded, soon out of breath, and soon stopped. The empire, we must acknowledge, was wept over, and wept over by heroic eyes. If there be glory in the sceptre-sword, the empire had been glory itself. It had spread over the earth all the light which tyranny can give a sombre light. Let us say further an obscure light. Compared to the real day, it is night. This disappearance of night had the effect of an eclipse.