Page:Margaret of Angoulême, Queen of Navarre (Robinson 1886).djvu/135

120 and with Soliman. The object of the one party was the expansion of France; they would give one hand to the Turk and one to the Huguenot; they would draw from Italy, from the East, from the Jews, all that could enrich their country. But the aim of the younger party was the centralisation of France; they wished to develop a civilization of their own, owing nothing to foreign influences. The party of Francis gave us Rabelais, Marot, the Estiennes, the Castles of Blois and Chambord and Fontainebleau, the germ of the collections of the Louvre, and the College of France. The party of Henry, less concerned with ideas, and far more delicate in expression, enriched the world with Ronsard and the Pleiad, with Anet and Écouen, with the Art of Francois Clouët and his school. A delicate, precise, charming, but artificial beauty centres in that Court: a second renaissance not passionate for truth, for knowledge, for freedom, for humanity, like the movement that inspired the life of Margaret of Angoulême.

The first consequence of the Dauphin's death was immensely to increase the prestige of Montmorency. He was now on the topmost pinnacle of success. Both Margaret and the Dauphin had used all their influence in his favour. All parties were for him. His skilful generalship had made a victorious campaign. Francis, perceiving the Grand Master to be a keen and ready soldier, and being himself influenced by Margaret's praises of her friend, determined to reward him richly. On the disgrace of Bourbon, the dangerously powerful office of Constable of France had fallen into a wise desuetude. The King determined to revive it for Montmorency. Margaret, never shrewd or suspicious, rejoiced in this triumph of her friend. The news