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He retained his good humor to the last, and to the last discharged all the rites of an elegant hospitality. Said his enemy, Pope, "Seen him I have, but in his happier hour Of social pleasure ill exchanged for power; Seen him, uncumbered by the venal tribe, Smile without art, and win without a bribe."
At last, in 1868, the defeated candidate petitioned; blue-book literature was enriched by a remarkable report, and the borough was disfranchised. Of course Kinglake had only himself to thank; if a gentleman chooses to sit for a venal borough, and to intrust his interests to a questionable agent, he must, in the words of Mrs. Gamp, "take the consequences of sech a sitiwation."
Nothing ever came of these intended negotiations. The miracles were never wrought, and even had Sainte Aldegonde been as venal as he was suspected of being which we have thus proof positive that he was not he never could have obtained the recompense, which, according to Philip's thrifty policy, was not to be paid until it had been earned. Sainte Aldegonde's hands were clean.
He had, of course, not accomplished the whole Augean task of purification. He was a vigorous Huguenot, but no Hercules, and demigods might have shrunk appalled at the filthy mass of corruption which great European kingdoms everywhere presented to the reformer's eye. Compared to the Spanish Government, that of France might almost have been considered virtuous, yet even there everything was venal.
And this response, given in an audible voice, was final and supreme, and not like the Grecian oracles, venal and mendacious.
But besides such claims, there is a large proportion of just business debts which need to be enforced. It does not matter how fair a claim may be, or how legitimate, it is very rarely that trouble is not experienced in pressing it. The Moorish Courts are so venal, so degraded, that it is more often the unscrupulous usurer who wins his case and applies the screw, than the honest trader.
He even went so far as to write a prologue and epilogue for it, and to touch up some parts of the dialogue. Houses were packed to applaud it to the echo; the newspapers vied with each other in their venal praises, and night after night seemed to give it a fresh triumph.
He had, of course, not accomplished the whole Augean task of purification. He was a vigorous Huguenot, but no Hercules, and demigods might have shrunk appalled at the filthy mass of corruption which great European kingdoms everywhere presented to the reformer's eye. Compared to the Spanish Government, that of France might almost have been considered virtuous, yet even there everything was venal.
Then, if he is weak, he finds his way into the pocket of some Trust Company or Railroad Corporation, and his desire for re-election to retain his brilliant position multiplies his shackles; for if he proves himself useful, the Trust will buy his Legislature if it happens to be venal and keep him in his place.
Gosson the respected, wealthy, eloquent, and virtuous advocate; together with his colleagues all Catholics, but at the same time patriots and liberals died the death of felons for their unfortunate attempt to save their fatherland from an ecclesiastical and venal conspiracy; while the actors in the plot, having all performed well their parts, received their full meed of prizes and applause.
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