napoleon bonaparte, v8-第14部分

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fetes　of　the　birth　and　baptism　of　the　King　of　Rome。　　Every　imaginable
device；　both　in　emblems　and　illuminations；　had　been　made　use　of　in　order
to　add　still　more　pomp　to　these　fetes；　and　each　town　had　been　governed　in
the　form　of　homage　it　rendered　to　the　new　king；　either　by　its
geographical　position　or　by　its　especial　industry。　　For　instance；　at
Clermont…Ferrand　an　immense　fire　had　been　lighted　at　ten　o'clock　in　the
evening　on　the　summit　of　the　Puy…de…Dome；　at　a　height　of　more　than　five
thousand　feet；　and　several　departments　could　enjoy　during　the　whole　night
this　grand　and　singular　sight。　　In　the　port　of　Flushing　the　vessels　were
covered　with　flags　and　banners　of　all　colors。　　In　the　evening　the　whole
squadron　was　illuminated；　thousands　of　lanterns　hung　from　the　masts；
yards；　and　rigging；　forming　a　beautiful　scene。　　Suddenly；　at　the　signal
of　a　gun　fired　from　the　admiral's　vessel；　all　the　vessels　sent　forth　at
once　tongues　of　flame；　and　it　seemed　as　if　the　most　brilliant　day
succeeded　to　the　darkest　night；　outlining　magnificently　those　imposing
masses　reflected　in　the　water　of　the　sea　as　in　a　glass。

We　passed　so　continually　from　one　fete　to　another　it　was　almost
confusing。　　The　rejoicings　over　the　baptism　were　followed　by　a　fete　given
by　the　Emperor　in　the　private　park　of　Saint…Cloud；　and　from　early　in　the
morning　the　road　from　Paris　to　Saint…Cloud　was　covered　with　carriages　and
men　on　foot。　　The　fete　took　place　in　the　inclosed　park　and　the　orangery；
all　the　boxes　of　which　and　the　front　of　the　chateau　were　decorated　with
rich　hangings；　while　temples　and　kiosks　rose　in　the　groves；　and　the　whole
avenue　of　chestnut…trees　was　hung　with　garlands　of　colored　glass。
Fountains　of　barley　water　and　currant　wine　had　been　distributed　so　that
all　persons　attending　the　fete　might　refresh　themselves；　and　tables；
elegantly　arranged；　had　been　placed　in　the　walks。　　The　whole　park　was
illuminated　by　pots…a…feu　concealed　among　the　shrubbery　and　groups　of
trees。

Madame　Blanchard　had　received　orders　to　hold　herself　in　readiness　to　set
out　at　half…past　nine　at　a　given　signal。

At　nine　o'clock；　the　balloon　being　filled；　she　entered　the　basket；　and
was　carried　to　the　end　of　the　basin　of　the　swans；　in　front　of　the
chateau；　and　until　the　moment　of　departure　she　remained　in　this　position；
above　the　height　of　the　tallest　trees；　and　thus　for　more　than　half　an
hour　could　be　seen　by　all　the　spectators　present　at　the　fete。　　At　half…
past　nine；　a　gun　fired　from　the　chateau　having　given　the　expected　signal；
the　cords　which　held　the　balloon　were　cut；　and　immediately　the　intrepid
aeronaut　could　be　seen　rising　majestically　into　the　air　before　the　eyes
of　the　crowd　assembled　in　the　throne　room。　　Having　arrived　at　a　certain
height；　she　set　off　an　immense　star　constructed　around　the　basket；　the
center　of　which　she　thus　occupied；　and　this　star　for　seven　or　eight
moments　threw　from　its　points　and　angles　numerous　other　small　stars；
producing　a　most　extraordinary　effect。　　It　was　the　first　time　a　woman　had
been　seen　to　rise　boldly　into　the　air　surrounded　by　fireworks；　and　she
appeared　as　if　sailing　in　a　chariot　of　fire　at　an　immense　height。　　I
imagined　myself　in　fairyland。

The　whole　of　the　garden　which　their　Majesties　traversed　presented　a　view
of　which　it　is　impossible　to　give　an　idea。　　The　illuminations　were
designed　in　perfect　taste；　there　were　a　variety　of　amusements；　and
numerous　orchestras　concealed　amid　the　trees　added　yet　more　to　the
enchantment。　　At　a　given　signal　three　doves　flew　from　the　top　of　a　column
surmounted　with　a　vase　of　flowers；　and　offered　to　their　Majesties
numerous　and　most　ingenious　devices。　　Farther　on　German　peasants　danced
waltzes　on　a　charming　lawn；　and　crowned　with　flowers　the　bust　of　her
Majesty　the　Empress；　and　shepherds　and　nymphs　from　the　opera　executed
dances；　Finally；　a　theater　had　been　erected　in　the　midst　of　the　trees；　on
which　was　represented　a　village　fete；　a　comedy　composed　by　M。　Ittienne；
and　set　to　music　by　Nicolo。　　The　Emperor　and　Empress　were　seated　under　a
dais　during　this　play；　when　suddenly　a　heavy　shower　fell；　throwing　all
the　spectators　into　commotion。　　Their　Majesties　did　not　notice　the　rain
at　first；　protected　as　they　were　by　the　dais；　and　the　Emperor　being
engaged　in　conversation　with　the　mayor　of　the　town　of　Lyons。　　The　latter
was　complaining　of　the　sales　of　the　cloths　of　that　town；　when　Napoleon；
noticing　the　frightful　rain　which　was　falling；　said　to　this　functionary；
〃I　answer　for　it　that　to…morrow　you　will　have　large　orders。〃

The　Emperor　kept　his　position　during　most　of　the　storm；　while　the
courtiers；　dressed　in　silk　and　velvet；　with　uncovered　heads；　received　the
rain　with　a　smiling　face。　　The　poor　musicians；　wet　to　the　skin；　at　last
could　no　longer　draw　any　sound　from　their　instruments；　of　which　the　rain
had　snapped　or　stretched　the　cords；　and　it　was　time　to　put　an　end　to　this
state　of　affairs。　　The　Emperor　gave　the　signal　for　departure；　and　they
retired。

On　that　day　Prince　Aldobrandini；　who　in　his　quality　of　first　equerry　of
Marie　Louise　accompanied　the　Empress；　was　very　happy　to　find　and　borrow
an　umbrella　in　order　to　shelter　Marie　Louise；　but　there　was　much
dissatisfaction　in　the　group　where　this　borrowing　was　done　because　the
umbrella　was　not　returned。　　That　evening　the　Prince　Borghese　and　Princess
Pauline　nearly　fell　into　the　Seine　in　their　carriage　while　returning　to
their　country　house　at　Neuilly。　　Those　persons　who　took　pleasure　in
finding　omens；　and　those　especially　（a　very　small　number）　who　saw　with
chagrin　the　rejoicings　of　the　Empire；　did　not　fail　to　remark　that　every
fete　given　to　Marie　Louise　had　been　attended　by　some　accident。　　They
spoke　affectedly　of　the　ball　given　by　the　Prince　of　Schwartzenberg　on　the
occasion　of　the　espousals；　and　of　the　fire　which　consumed　the　dancing…
hall；　and　the　tragic　death　of　several　persons；　notably　of　the　sister　of
the　prince。　　They　drew　from　this　coincidence　bad　auguries；　some　from　ill…
will；　and　in　order　to　undermine　the　enthusiasm　inspired　by　the　high
fortunes　of　Napoleon；　others　from　a　superstitious　credulity；　as　if　there
could　have　been　any　serious　connection　between　afire　which　cost　the　lives
of　several　persons；　and　the　very　usual　accident　of　a　storm　in　June；　which
ruined　the　toilets；　and　wet　to　the　skin　thousands　of　spectators。

It　was　a　very　amusing　scene　for　those　who　had　no　finery　to　spoil；　and　who
ran　only　the　risk　of　taking　cold；　to　see　these　poor　women　drenched　with
the　rain；　running　in　every　direction；　with　or　without　a　cavalier；　and
hunting　for　shelter　which　could　not　be　found。

A　few　were　fortunate　enough　to　find　modest　umbrellas；　but　most　of　them
saw　the　flowers　fall　from　their　heads；　beaten　down　by　the　rain；　or　their
finery　dripping　with　water；　dragging　on　the　ground；　in　a　pitiable　state。
When　it　was　time　to　return　to　Paris　the　carriages　were　missing；　as　the
coachmen；　thinking　that　the　fete　would　last　till　daylight；　had　prudently
thought　that　they　would　not　take　the　trouble　to　wait　all　night。　　Those
persons　with　carriages　could　not　use　them；　as　the　press　was　so　great　that
it　was　almost　impossible　to　move。　　Several　ladies　got　lost；　and　returned
to　Paris　on　foot；　others　lost　their　shoes；　and　it　was　a　pitiable　sight　to
see　the　pretty　feet　in　the　mud。　　Happily　there　were　few　or　no　accidents；
and　the　physician　and　the　bed　repaired　everything。　　But　the　Emperor
laughed　heartily　at　this　adventure；　and　said　that　the　merchants　would
gain　by　it。

M。　de　Remusat；　so　good　and　ready　to　render　a　service；　always　forgetting
himself　for　others；　had　succeeded　in　procuring　an　umbrella；　when　he　met
my　wife　and　mother…in…law；　who　were　escaping　like　the　others；　took　them
on　his　arm；　and　conducted　them　to　the　palace　without　their　having
received　the　least　injury。　　For　an　hour　he　traveled　back　and　forth　from
the　palace　to　the　park；　and　from　the　park　to　the　garden；　and　had　the
happiness　to　be　useful　to　a　great　number　of　ladies　whose　toilets　he　saved
from　entire　ruin。　　It　was　an　act　of　gallantry　which　inspired　infinite
gratitude；　because　it　was　performed　in　a　manner　evincing　such　kindness　of
heart。




CHAPTER　XXXI。

This　seemed　to　be　a　year　of　fetes；　and　I　dwell　upon　it　with　pleasure
because　it　preceded　one　filled　with　misfortunes。　　The　years　1811　and　1812
offered　a　striking　contrast　to　each　other。　　All　those　flowers　lavished　on
the　fetes　of　the　King　of　Rome　and　his　august　mother　covered　an　abyss；　and
all　this　enthusiasm　was　changed　to　mourning　a　few　months　later。　　Never
were　more　brilliant　fetes　followed　by　more　overwhelming　misfortunes。　　Let
us；　then；　dwell　a　little　longer　upon　the　rejoicings　which　preceded　1812。
I　feel　that　I　need　to　be　fortified　before　entering　upon　reminiscences　of
that　time　of　unprofitable　sacrifices；　of　bloodshed　without　preserving　or
conquering；　and　of　glory　without　result。　　On　the　25th　of　August；　the
Empress's　fete　was　celebrated　at　Trianon；　and　from　early　in　the　morning
the　road　from　Paris　to　Trianon　was　covered　with　an　immense　number　of
carriages　and　people　on　foot；　the　same　sentiment　attracting　the　court；
the　citizens；　the　people；　to　the　delightful　place　at　which　the　fete　was
held。　　All　ranks　were　mingled；　all　went　pell…mell；　and　I　have　never　seen
a　crowd　more　singularly　variegated；　or　which　presented　a　more　striking
picture　of　all　conditions　of　society。　　Ordinarily　the　multitude　at　fetes
of　this　kind　is　composed　of　little　more　than　one　class　of　people　and　a
few　modest　bourgeois　that　is　all；　very　rarely　of　people　with　equipages；
more　rarely　still　people　of　the　court；　but　here　there　were　all；　and　there
was　no　one　so　low　that　he　could　not　have　the　satisfaction　of　elbowing　a
countess　or　some　other　noble　inhabitant　of　the　Faubourg　St。　Germain；　for
all　Paris　seemed　to　be　at　Versailles。　　That　town　so　beautiful；　but　yet　so
sadly　beautiful；　which　seemed　since　the　last　king　to　be　bereft　of　its
inhabitants；　those　broad　streets　in　which　no　one　was　to　be　seen；　those
squares；　the　least　of　which　could　hold　all　the　inhabitants　of　Versailles；
and　which　could　hardly　contain　the　courtiers　of　the　Great　King；　this
magnificent　solitude　which　we　call　Versailles；　had　been　populated
suddenly　by　the　capital。　　The　private　houses