GENERAL INTRODUCTION xvii 



efforts, ambitions, struggles, and the diverse fates of groups, in 

 spite of stumblings, detours, and setbacks — Humanity progresses. 

 Its horizon, as we advance, becomes higher : it endeavours with 

 the aid of the historian to adjust itself in time and space, to take 

 cognizance of itself, to know more in order to do more. A n enterprise 

 like ours is consequently a living thing. And though it is the 

 duty of the historian as a scholar to collect facts and to study 

 their causes objectively and dispassionately, yet he has the right 

 as a man to develop an enthusiasm for his work and impart to it 

 an inner fire. 



Since our work must possess this living character a final 

 problem confronts us. Shall we content ourselves with the text 

 alone and absolutely reject the picture or shall we utilize illustra- 

 tions and thus give the text an additional vital interest ? 



Illustration has its dangers. A few pictures scattered through 

 a volume give it a more attractive, perhaps a more unacademic 

 aspect but do not necessarily heighten its value. Numerous 

 illustrations, on the other hand, generally end by dominating 

 the volume, impose upon it a definite size and definite proportions 

 so that we run the risk of reducing the text to a mere commentary. 

 Nevertheless, we admit that illustrations have their merits. The 

 resurrection of the inner and deeper life of the past calls in some 

 measure for a visualization of individuals and their surroundings. 

 Michelet is the " visualizer " not merely of souls but also of 

 forms. If, then, it is opportune to replace a dangerous psycho- 

 logical intuition by methodical research into causes, it is perhaps 

 equally opportune to replace or help a dangerous imaginative 

 vision by forcing it to look upon authentic pictures. 



Whenever, therefore, the text would seem to be obscure and 

 incomplete without this aid, useful illustrations will be found in 

 the proper place. In certain volumes which demand a larger 

 number, plates can be added in an appendix. In the main, 

 however, the role of the illustration will always remain an 

 accessory one. 



II 



Each volume, as we have said, is to have its own interest and 

 its own unity. 



Each will constitute, for a given period or for a given historical 



problem, an inventory of what has been and what still remains 



to be accomplished. 



b 



