Attempt > Volume 1 and Select writings

THE ATTEMPT
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Sfutcjjes tom tjr.e ’j&tiQti of Sours fyt J'ourtout^.
“ For within the hollow crown,
That rounds the mortal temples of a King,
Keeps Death his court, and there the antick sits,
Scoffing his state, and grinning at his pomp,
Allowing him a breath, a little scene
To monarchize, be feared, and kill with looks,
Infusing him with self and vain conceit,—
As if this flesh, which walls about our life,
Were brass impregnable ; and humoured thus,
Comes at the last, and with a little pin
Bores through the castle wall—and farewell King.”
Nothing more strongly impresses the mind with the evanescent nature of all
human events, plans, or actions, greatness, glory, fame, or triumphs, than the thoughtful
perusal of the pages of history, particularly those containing the account of some more
than usually brilliant reign. Like the slides passed quickly through a magic lantern,
dazzling us for moment, and then leaving no impression of what seemed so real behind
them, so, as we read, each scene passes away to give place to another, and what
appeared to its actors so momentous or so memorable, so wondrous or so likely to
influence the world throughout all succeeding ages, only engages the attention for the
passing moment; and as event crowds after event in the brief record of many years,
each new one effaces the impression made by the former. It is difficult, nay hardly
possible, to realize the truth, that what at present seems to us so important, will per¬
haps so little interest posterity. This may seem to us a painful thought, but it may
not be without its use, if it leads us to see how small a space in Time is occupied by
the greatest of earth’s potentates, and seeing this, to remember that, although forgotten
here, their most insignificant action is recorded in Eternity.
We are about to describe some of the principal events connected with the Life and
Times of Louis XIY. of France; and when perusing all the minuteness of petty detail
in which the biographers of his time indulge when recounting the long and glorious
reign of this monarch, many and various opportunities are afforded of observing, that
what at the time in which it happened appeared to be memorable, will eventually be
considered of but slight importance.
Feb. 1865.
D