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scuttle the vessel, a torch in the other to fire it. The crew are
resolved to defend themselves and run to arms. Would you say to this
crew, 'For my part I consider this vessel badly built, and I will let it
be destroyed'?"
"In such a case," added Edgar Quinet, "whoever is not on the side of the
vessel is on the side of the pirates."
They shouted on all sides, "The decree! Read the decree!"
I was standing leaning against the fire place. Napoleon Bonaparte came
up to me, and whispered in my ear,--
"
You are undertaking," said he, "a battle which is lost beforehand."
I answered him, "I do not look at success, I look at duty."
He replied, "You are a politician, consequently you ought to look
forward to success. I repeat, before you go any further, that the battle
is lost beforehand."
I resumed, "If we enter upon the conflict the battle is lost. You say
so, I believe it; but if we do not enter upon it, honor is lost. I would
rather lose the battle than honor."
He remained silent for a moment, then he took my hand.
"
Be it so," continued he, "but listen to me. You run, you yourself
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