This is part of a series why Hortense broke the law.
When we last left off, Hortense was trying to convince her sons to stay out of revolutions that had no chance of success. Her letter continues.
The short sighted can neither judge nor predict; we must beware of their catchy proposals: they have nothing to lose, they have nothing to spare, and see with their imagination. The man who lets himself be influenced by the language of the first comer, who does not use his judgment, will be mediocre all his life.
There are magic names which can have a great influence on all the events which are being prepared: they must appear in revolutions only to restore order, by giving security to the people and by balancing the exclusive power of kings. Their role is therefore to wait with patience.
If they foment troubles, they would have the fate of the adventurers which one makes use of, but which one abandons or which one delivers up at the first hiccup. Italy can do nothing without France; she must also wait patiently for France to unravel her own affairs herself.
Carelessness is detrimental to both causes, because a lifting of shields without success destroys for a long time the forces and men of one party, to raise the other at its expense; and we despise the one who falls.
My children replied that they had read the note very carefully, and that they approved of it. So here I am calm on this point; and when Romagna, Modena, Piacenza arose, I had to groan only on the misfortunes that I saw falling on these countries, without adding the terror of seeing my sons there.
I did not know, which I have learned since, that Menotti had come to find them in Florence, had explained to them the state of Italy and the need she might have for them.
Attached to the Duke of Modena, Menotti had wanted, in agreement with the Duke to have my sons agree to support independence; but repelled by the highly justified distrust of the Italians against an Austrian prince so contrary to liberty, he must have -
Quand nous nous sommes arrêtés pour la dernière fois, Hortense essayait de convaincre ses fils de rester à l'écart des révolutions qui n'avaient aucune chance de succès. Sa lettre continue.
