napoleon bonaparte, v9-第12部分

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their　sufferings；　which　must　have　been　very　severe；　as　wounds　are　always
much　more　painful　when　cold　weather　first　begins。　　All　these　pale
countenances　drawn　with　suffering　became　more　serene。　　These　poor
soldiers　also　rejoiced　to　see　their　comrades；　and　questioned　them　with
anxious　curiosity　concerning　the　events　which　had　followed　the　battle　of
Borodino。　　When　they　learned　that　we　had　bivouacked　at　Moscow；　they　were
filled　with　joy；　and　it　was　very　evident　that　their　greatest　regret　was
that　they　could　not　have　been　with　the　others　to　see　the　fine　furniture
of　the　rich　Muscovites　used　as　fuel　at　the　bivouac　fires。　　Napoleon
directed　that　each　carriage　of　the　suite　should　convey　one　of　these
unfortunates；　and　this　was　done；　everybody　complying　with　the　order　with
a　readiness　which　gratified　the　Emperor　exceedingly；　and　the　poor　wounded
fellows　said　in　accents　of　most　ardent　gratitude；　that　they　were　much
more　comfortable　on　these　soft　cushions　than　in　the　ambulances；　which　we
could　well　believe。　　A　lieutenant　of　the　cuirassiers　who　had　just
undergone　an　amputation　was　placed　in　the　landau　of　the　Emperor；　while　he
traveled　on　horseback。

This　answers　every　accusation　of　cruelty　so　gratuitously　made　against　the
memory　of　a　great　man　who　has　passed　away。　　I　have　read　somewhere　with
intense　disgust　that　the　Emperor　sometimes　ordered　his　carriage　to　pass
over　the　wounded；　whose　cries　of　agony　made　not　the　slightest　impression
on　him；　all　of　which　is　false　and　very　revolting。　　None　of　those　who
served　the　Emperor　could　have　been　ignorant　of　his　solicitude　for　the
unfortunate　victims　of　war；　and　the　care　he　had　taken　of　them。
Foreigners；　enemies；　or　Frenchmen；all　were　recommended　to　the　surgeon's
care　with　equal　strictness。

From　time　to　time　frightful　explosions　made　us　turn　our　heads；　and　glance
behind　us。　　They　were　caissons　which　were　being　exploded　that　we　might　no
longer　be　encumbered　with　them；　as　the　march　became　each　day　more
painful。　　It　produced　a　sad　impression　to　see　that　we　were　reduced　to
such　a　point　of　distress　as　to　be　compelled　to　throw　our　powder　to　the
winds　to　keep　from　leaving　it　to　the　enemy。　　But　a　still　sadder
reflection　came　into　our　minds　at　each　detonation；the　grand　army　must
be　rapidly　hastening　to　dissolution　when　the　material　remaining　exceeded
our　needs；　and　the　number　of　men　still　left　was　so　much　short　of　that
required　to　use　it。　　On　the　30th；　the　Emperor's　headquarters　were　in　a
poor　hovel　which　had　neither　doors　nor　windows。　　We　had　much　difficulty
in　enclosing　even　a　corner　sufficient　for　him　to　sleep。　　The　cold　was
increasing；　and　the　nights　were　icy；　the　small　fortified　palisades　of
which　a　species　of　post　relays　had　been　made；　placed　from　point　to　point；
marked　the　divisions　of　the　route；　and　served　also　each　evening　as
Imperial　headquarters。　　The　Emperor's　bed　was　hastily　set　up　there；　and　a
cabinet　arranged　as　well　as　possible　where　he　could　work　with　his
secretaries；　or　write　his　orders　to　the　different　chiefs　whom　he　had　left
on　the　road　and　in　the　towns。

Our　retreat　was　often　annoyed　by　parties　of　Cossacks。　　These　barbarians
rushed　upon　us；　lance　in　hand；　and　uttering　rather　howls　of　ferocious
beasts　than　human　cries；　their　little；　long…tailed　horses　dashing　against
the　flanks　of　the　different　divisions。　　But　these　attacks；　though　often
repeated；　had　not；　at　least　at　the　beginning　of　the　retreat；　serious
consequences　for　the　army。　　When　they　heard　this　horrible　cry　the
infantry　was　not　intimidated；　but　closed　ranks　and　presented　bayonets；
and　the　cavalry　made　it　their　duty　to　pursue　these　barbarians；　who　fled
more　quickly　than　they　came。

On　the　6th　of　November；　before　leaving　the　army；　the　Emperor　received
news　of　the　conspiracy　of　Malet　and　everything　connected　with　it。　　He　was
at　first　astonished；　then　much　dissatisfied；　and　ended　by　making　himself
very　merry　over　the　discomfiture　of　the　chief　of　police；　General　Savary；
and　said　many　times　that　had　he　been　at　Paris　no　one　would　have　budged；
and　that　he　could　never　leave　at　all　without　every　one　losing　their　heads
at　the　least　disturbance；　and　from　this　time　he　often　spoke　of　how　much
he　was　needed　in　Paris。

Speaking　of　General　Savary　recalls　to　my　memory　an　affair　in　which　he　was
somewhat　nonplussed。　　After　quitting　the　command　of　the　gendarmerie；　to
succeed　Fouche　in　the　office　of　minister　of　police；　he　had　a　little
discussion　with　one　of　the　Emperor's　aides…de…camp。　　As　he　went　so　far　as
to　threaten；　the　latter　replied；　〃You　seem　to　think　you　have　handcuffs
always　in　your　pockets。〃

On　the　8th　of　November　the　snow　was　falling；　the　sky　covered　with　clouds；
the　cold　intense；　while　a　violent　wind　prevailed；　and　the　roads　were
covered　with　sleet。　　The　horses　could　make　no　progress；　for　their　shoes
were　so　badly　worn　that　they　could　not　prevent　slipping　on　the　frozen
ground。

The　poor　animals　were　emaciated；　and　it　was　necessary　that　the　soldiers
should　put　their　shoulders　to　the　wheels　in　order　to　lighten　their
burdens。

There　is　something　in　the　panting　breath　which　issues　from　the　nostrils
of　a　tired　horse；　in　the　tension　of　their　muscles；　and　the　prodigious
efforts　of　their　loins；　which　gives　us；　in　a　high　degree；　the　idea　of
strength；　but　the　mute　resignation　of　these　animals；　when　we　know　them　to
be　overladen；　inspires　us　with　pity；　and　makes　us　regret　the　abuse　of　so
much　endurance。

The　Emperor　on　foot　in　the　midst　of　his　household；　and　staff　in　hand；
walked　with　difficulty　over　these　slippery　roads；　meanwhile　encouraging
the　others　with　kind　words；　each　of　whom　felt　himself　full　of　good…will；
and　had　any　one　then　uttered　a　complaint　he　would　have　been　badly
esteemed　by　his　comrades。　　We　arrived　in　sight　of　Smolensk。　　The　Emperor
was　the　least　fatigued　of　all；　and　though　he　was　pale；　his　countenance
was　calm；　and　nothing　in　his　appearance　indicated　his　mental　sufferings；
and　indeed　they　must　needs　have　been　intense　to　be　evident　to　the　public。
The　roads　were　strewn　with　men　and　horses　slain　by　fatigue　or　famine；　and
men　as　they　passed　turned　their　eyes　aside。　　As　for　the　horses　they　were
a　prize　for　our　famished　soldiers。

We　at　last　reached　Smolensk　on　the　9th；　and　the　Emperor　lodged　in　a
beautiful　house　on　the　Place　Neuve。　　Although　this　important　city　had
suffered　since　we　had　passed　through　before；　it　still　had　some　resources；
and　we　found　there　provisions　of　all　kinds　for　the　Emperor's　household
and　the　officers；　but　the　Emperor　valued　but　little　this　privileged
abundance；　so　to　speak；　when　he　learned　that　the　army　needed　food　for　man
and　beast。　　When　he　learned　of　this　his　rage　amounted　to　frenzy；　and　I
have　never　seen　him　so　completely　beside　himself。　　He　had　the　commissary
in　charge　of　the　provisions　summoned；　and　reproached　him　in　such
unmeasured　terms　that　the　latter　turned　pale；　and　could　find　no　words　to
justify　himself；　whereupon　the　Emperor　became　still　more　violent；　and
uttered　terrible　threats。　　I　heard　cries　from　the　next　room；　and　I　have
been　told　since　that　the　quartermaster　threw　himself　at　the　feet　of　his
Majesty；　beseeching　pardon；　and　the　Emperor；　when　his　rage　had　spent
itself；　pardoned　him。　　Never　did　he　sympathize　more　truly　with　the
sufferings　of　his　army；　never　did　he　suffer　more　bitterly　from　his
powerlessness　to　struggle　against　such　overwhelming　misfortunes。

On　the　14th　we　resumed　the　route　which　we　had　traversed　a　few　months
before　under　far　different　auspices。　　The　thermometer　registered　twenty
degrees；　and　we　were　still　very　far　from　France。　　After　a　slow　and
painful　march　we　arrived　at　Krasnoi。　　The　Emperor　was　obliged　to　go　in
person；　with　his　guard；　to　meet　the　enemy；　and　release　the　Prince　of
Eckmuhl。　　He　passed　through　the　fire　of　the　enemy；　surrounded　by　his　old
guard；　who　pressed　around　their　chief　in　platoons　in　which　the　shell　made
large　gaps；　furnishing　one　of　the　grandest　examples　in　all　history　of　the
devotion　and　love　of　thousands　of　men　to　one。　　When　the　fire　was　hottest；
the　band　played　the　air；　'Where　can　one　be　better　than　in　the　bosom　of
his　family？'　　Napoleon　interrupted　them；　exclaiming；　〃Play　rather；　'Let
us　watch　over　the　safety　of　the　Empire。'〃　　It　is　difficult　to　imagine
anything　grander。

The　Emperor　returned　from　this　combat　much　fatigued。　　He　had　passed
several　nights　without　sleeping；　listening　to　the　reports　made　to　him　on
the　condition　of　the　army；　expediting　orders　necessary　to　procure　food
for　the　soldiers；　and　putting　in　motion　the　different　corps　which　were　to
sustain　the　retreat。　　Never　did　his　stupendous　activity　find　more
constant　employment；　never　did　he　show　a　higher　courage　than　in　the　midst
of　all　these　calamities　of　which　he　seemed　to　feel　the　weighty
responsibility。

Between　Orcha　and　the　Borysthenes　those　conveyances　for　which　there　were
no　longer　horses　were　burned；　and　the　confusion　and　discouragement　became
so　great　that　in　the　rear　of　the　army　most　of　the　stragglers　threw　down
their　arms　as　a　heavy　and　useless　burden。　　The　officers　of　the　armed
police　had　orders　to　return　by　force　those　who　abandoned　their　corps；　and
often　they　were　obliged　to　prick　them　with　their　swords　to　make　them
advance。　　The　intensity　of　their　sufferings　had　hardened　the　heart　of　the
soldier；　which　is　naturally　kind　and　sympathizing；　to　such　an　extent　that
the　most　unfortunate　intentionally　caused　commotions　in　order　that　they
might　seize　from　some　better　equipped　companion　sometimes　a　cloak；
sometimes　food。　　〃There　are　the　Cossacks！〃　was　their　usual　cry　of　alarm；
and　when　these　guilty　tricks　became　known；　and　our　soldiers　recovered
from　their　surprise；　there　were　reprisals；　and　the　confusion　reached　its
height。

The　corps　of　Marshal　Davoust　was　one　of　those　which　suffered　most　in　the
whole　army。　　Of　the　seventy　thousand　men　with　which　it　left　France；　there
only　remained　four　or　five　thousand；　and　they　were　dying　of　famine。　　The
marshal　himself　was　terribly　emaciated。　　He　had　neither　clothing　nor
food。　　Hunger　and　fatigue　had　hollowed　his　cheeks；　and　his　whole
appearance　inspired　pity。　　This　brave　marshal；　who　had　twenty　times
escaped　Russian　bullets；　now　saw　himself　dying　of　hunger；　and　when　one　of
his　soldiers　gave　him　a　lo