Page:Life in the Old World - Vol. I.djvu/447

Rh Gioberti and Balbo, and at the flaming up of all Italy for freedom in every form, had readily given to his people Il Statuto—a constitution—placed himself of his own accord at the head of the Piedmontese army, which, united to auxiliary troops from all the States of Italy, should achieve its freedom from foreign domination. But although personally brave, Carlo Alberto was no military genius, and that he himself knew. But hope and joy were supreme at that moment. The king and people were one. The people believed in their king, were enthusiastic for the cause of liberty, and had a high degree of military spirit. Gray-headed men took up arms; boys escaped from their homes to fight against the Austrians; whole families of brothers were seen to leave their peaceful occupations to muster under the banner of Piedmont.

With this brave army Carlo Alberto burst into Lombardy and went forward, for some time, from victory to victory. Austria however sent against him Radetzky, and the eighty-six-years-old commander soon cut short the career of victory. Then again the peculiar defects showed themselves, which lay in the depth of Carlo Alberto's character, and which had shown themselves during his whole life. His action became hesitating and undecided; now and then he made a brilliant military movement, but he did not carry it out, or he did it merely by halves; he delayed when he ought to have been active, perhaps he might be also, as the Piedmontese assert,—ill-supported by the troops of the other States which seemed to be willing that Piedmont should fight for them all, in short, spite of the bravery of the king