So He Was Careful To See That The Food
And Clothing, And A Quantity Of Powder And Small Arms, Were Left
Untouched, For, As He Nobly Said, "An Enemy Conquered Should Have
Nothing More To Fear From A Civilised Foe; He Then Becomes A Friend."
Some readers may like to see the verses in which a French poet
has enshrined this incident.
For their benefit they are appended: -
"Un jour ayant appris que les Anglais en fuite
Se cachaient dans un bois redoutant la poursuite,
Tu laissas sur la plage aux soldats affames,
Par la peur affoles, en haillons, desarmes,
Des vivres abondantes, des habits et des armes;
Tu t'eloignas apres pour calmer leurs alarmes,
Et quand on s'etonnait: 'Sachez qu' un ennemi
Vaincu n'a rien a craindre, et devient un ami.'"
The passage may be rendered in English thus: "One day, having heard
that the fleeing English were hidden in a forest dreading pursuit, you
left upon the shore for those soldiers - famished, ragged, disarmed,
and paralysed by fear - abundance of food, clothes and arms; then, to
calm their fears, you removed your forces to a distance; and, when
astonishment was expressed, you said: 'Understand that a beaten enemy
has nothing to fear from us, and becomes a friend.'"
Chapter III.
THE LOVE STORY OF LAPEROUSE.
"My story is a romance" - "Mon histoire est un roman" - wrote Laperouse
in relating the events with which this chapter will deal. We have seen
him as a boy; we have watched him in war; we shall presently follow him
as a navigator.
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