পাতা:সদগুণ ও বীর্য্যের ইতিহাস.djvu/১০৯

C 106 || was confirmed and the expected reward bestowed on the poor servant. 45. Swiss soldiers. The Swiss inhabit a poor and mountainous country. Hence they are in the habit of hiring out their soldiers to the sovereigns of Europe. A Swiss general who had bravely served the king of France, asked for the arrears of pay due to the troops. The king's minister Louvois was present at the time, and being vexed at this new demand on the treasury said, Sir, if your Majesty had all the money which has been paid to these Swiss by your predecessors, it would form a path from thence to your Capital. That may be t:ue, answered the brave Swiss general; but if all the blood which the Swiss have shed in the service of France were collected together, it would form a river from hence to Switzerland. The king without another word, ordered their arrears to be paid down.