Medieval and modern times : an introduction to the history of western Europe form the dissolution of the Roman empire to the present time . handsome man, of elegant and courtly mien and the most ex- -^^.^^^ „{quisite perfection of manner; even when playing billiards he ^°* ^^^is said to have retained an air of world mastery. The first of 1 Louis XIV does not appear to have himself used the famous expression /amthe State, usually attributed to him, but it exactly corresponds to his idea of therelation of the king and the State. 39° Medieval and Modem Times The strenu-ous life of adespoticruler
Medieval and modern times : an introduction to the history of western Europe form the dissolution of the Roman empire to the present time . handsome man, of elegant and courtly mien and the most ex- -^^.^^^ „{quisite perfection of manner; even when playing billiards he ^°* ^^^is said to have retained an air of world mastery. The first of 1 Louis XIV does not appear to have himself used the famous expression /amthe State, usually attributed to him, but it exactly corresponds to his idea of therelation of the king and the State. 39° Medieval and Modem Times The strenu-ous life of adespoticruler theStuarts, on the contrary, was a veiy awkward man, whoseslouching gait, intolerable manners, and pedantic conversationwere utterly at variance with his lofty pretensions. Louis added,moreover, to his graceful exterior a sound judgment and quickapprehension. He said neither too much nor too little. Hewas, for a king, a hard worker and spent several hours a dayattending to the business of government. It requires, in fact, a great deal of energy and application tobe a real despot. In order thoroughly to understand and to solve ]^^. Fig. 104. Facade of the Palace of Versailles the problems which constantly face the ruler of a great state, amonarch must, like Frederick the Great or Napoleon, rise earlyand toil late. Louis XIV was greatly aided by the able min-isters who sat in his council, but he always retained for himselfthe place of first minister. He would never have consented, tobe dominated by an adviser, as his father had been by Richelieu. The profession of the king, he declared, is great, noble,and delightful if one but feels equal to performing the dutieswhich it involves, — and he never harbored a doubt that hehimself was bom for the business. France under Louis XIV 391 How Louis encouraged Art and Literature 77. Louis XIV was careful that his surroundings should suit The kingsthe grandeur of his office. His court was magnificent beyond v^ersaiUesanything that had
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Keywords: ., bookauthorrobinson, bookcentury1900, bookdecade1910, bookyear1919
