they
114 Political Writings
have simply been sold back, and the Third Estate has been willing to buy
them. But one way or another, it is now in position to take possession of
them. It cannot be ignorant of the fact that where once it was no more
than a shadow, it is now the real nation and that over the course of this
long transformation, the nobility has ceased to be that monstrous feudal
reality that once was able to oppress with impunity and instead has become
no more than its shadow. It is now quite vain for that shadow to try
to overawe an entire nation unless that nation wants to be regarded as no
more than the lowest nation on earth.