napoleon bonaparte, v9-第6部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！


animated　gestures；　convulsive　movements；　and　warlike　postures；　that　there
would　soon　be　a　great　battle　between　the　French　and　the　Russians。　　The
Emperor　had　brandy　given　them；　which　they　drank　like　water；　and　presented
their　glasses　anew　with　a　coolness　which　was　very　amusing。　　Their　horses
were　small；　with　cropped　manes　and　long　tails；　such　as　unfortunately　can
be　seen　without　leaving　Paris。

It　is　a　matter　of　history　that　the　King　of　Naples　made　a　most　favorable
impression　on　these　barbarians。　　When　it　was　announced　to　the　Emperor　one
day　that　they　desired　to　appoint　him　their　hetman；　the　Emperor　was　much
amused　by　this　offer；　and　said　jestingly　that　he　was　ready　to　indorse
this　choice　of　a　free　people。　　The　King　of　Naples　had　something
theatrical　in　his　appearance　which　fascinated　these　barbarians；　for　he
always　dressed　magnificently。　　When　his　steed　bore　him　in　front　of　his
column；　his　beautiful　hair　disordered　by　the　wind；　as　he　gave　those　grand
saber　strokes　which　mowed　down　men　like　stubble；　I　can　well　comprehend
the　deep　impression　he　made　on　the　fancy　of　these　warlike　people；　among
whom　exterior　qualities　alone　can　be　appreciated。　　It　is　said　that　the
King　of　Naples　by　simply　raising　this　powerful　sword　had　put　to　flight　a
horde　of　these　barbarians。　　I　do　not　know　how　much　truth　there　is　in　this
statement；　but　it　is　at　least　possible。

The　Cossacks；　in　common　with　all　races　still　in　their　infancy；　believe　in
magicians。　　A　very　amusing　anecdote　was　told　of　the　great　chief　of　the
Cossacks；　the　celebrated　Platoff。　　Pursued　by　the　King　of　Naples；　he　was
beating　a　retreat；　when　a　ball　reached　one　of　the　officers　beside　him；　on
which　event　the　hetman　was　so　much　irritated　against　his　magician　that　he
had　him　flogged　in　presence　of　all　his　hordes；　reproaching　him　most
bitterly　because　he　had　not　turned　away　the　balls　by　his　witchcraft。
This　was　plain　evidence　of　the　fact　that　he　had　more　faith　in　his　art
than　the　sorcerer　himself　possessed。

On　the　3d　of　September；　from　his　headquarters　at　Gjatsk；　the　Emperor
ordered　his　army　to　prepare　for　a　general　engagement。　　There　had　been　for
some　days　much　laxity　in　the　police　of　the　bivouacs；　and　he　now　redoubled
the　severity　of　the　regulations　in　regard　to　the　countersigns。　　Some
detachments　which　had　been　sent　for　provisions　having　too　greatly
prolonged　their　expedition；　the　Emperor　charged　the　colonels　to　express
to　them　his　dissatisfaction；　adding　that　those　who　had　not　returned　by
the　next　day　could　not　take　part　in　the　battle。　　These　words　needed　no
commentary。

The　country　surrounding　Gjatsk　was　very　fertile；　and　the　fields　were　now
covered　with　rye　ready　for　the　sickle；　through　which　we　saw　here　and
there　broad　gaps　made　by　the　Cossacks　in　their；　flight。　　I　have　often
since　compared　the　aspect　of　these　fields　in　November　and　September。
What　a　horrible　thing　is　war！　　A　few　days　before　the　battle；　Napoleon；
accompanied　by　two　of　his　marshals；　made　a　visit　of　inspection　on　foot　in
the　outskirts　of　the　city。

On　the　eve　of　this　great　event　he　discussed　everything　in　the　calmest
manner；　speaking　of　this　country　as　he　would　have　done　of　a　beautiful；
fertile　province　of　France。　　In　hearing　him　one　might　think　that　the
granary　of　the　army　had　here　been　found；　that　it　would　consequently
furnish　excellent　winter　quarters；　and　the　first　care　of　the　government
he　was　about　to　establish　at　Gjatsk　would　be　the　encouragement　of
agriculture。　　He　then　pointed　out　to　his　marshals　the　beautiful　windings
of　the　river　which　gives　its　name　to　the　village；　and　appeared　delighted
with　the　landscape　spread　before　his　eyes。　　I　have　never　seen　the　Emperor
abandon　himself　to　such　gentle　emotions；　nor　seen　such　serenity
manifested　both　in　his　countenance　and　conversation；　and　at　the　same　time
I　was　never　more　deeply　impressed　with　the　greatness　of　his　soul。

On　the　5th　of　September　the　Emperor　mounted　the　heights　of　Borodino；
hoping　to　take　in　at　a　glance　the　respective　positions　of　the　two　armies；
but　the　sky　was　overcast。　　One　of　those　fine；　cold　rains　soon　began　to
fall；　which　so　often　come　in　the　early　autumn；　and　resemble　from　a
distance　a　tolerably　thick　fog。　　The　Emperor　tried　to　use　his　glasses；
but　the　kind　of　veil　which　covered　the　whole　country　prevented　his　seeing
any　distance；　by　which　he　was　much　vexed。　　The　rain；　driven　by　the　wind；
fell　slanting　against　his　field…glasses；　and　he　had　to　dry　them　over　and
over　again；　to　his　very　great　annoyance。　　The　atmosphere　was　so　cold　and
damp　that　he　ordered　his　cloak；　and　wrapped　himself　in　it；　saying　that　as
it　was　impossible　to　remain　there；　he　must　return　to　headquarters；　which
he　did；　and　throwing　himself　on　the　bed　slept　a　short　while。　　On　awaking
he　said；　〃Constant；　I　hear　a　noise　outside；　go　see　what　it　is。〃　　I　went
out；　and　returned　to　inform　him　that　General　Caulaincourt　had　arrived；　at
which　news　the　Emperor　rose　hastily；　and　ran　to　meet　the　general；　asking
him　anxiously；　〃Do　you　bring　any　prisoners？　　〃　The　general　replied　that
he　had　not　been　able　to　take　prisoners；　since　the　Russian　soldiers　；
preferred　death　to　surrender。　　The　Emperor　immediately　cried；　〃Let　all
the　artillery　be　brought　forward。〃　　He　had　decided　that　in　his
preparations　to　make　this　war　one　of　extermination；　the　cannon　would
spare　his　troops　the　fatigue　of　discharging　their　muskets。

On　the　6th；　at　midnight；　it　was　announced　to　the　Emperor　that　the　fires
of　the　Russians　seemed　less　numerous；　and　the　flames　were　extinguished　at
several　points；　and　some　few　said　they　had　heard　the　muffled　sound　of
drums。　　The　army　was　in　a　state　of　great　anxiety。　　The　Emperor　sprang
wildly　from　his　bed；　repeatedly　exclaiming；　〃It　is　impossible！〃

I　tried　to　hand　him　his　garments；　that　he　might　clothe　himself　warmly；　as
the　night　was　so　cold；　but　he　was　so　eager　to　assure　himself　personally
of　the　truth　of　these　statements；　that　he　rushed　out　of　the　tent　with
only　his　cloak　wrapped　around　him。　　It　was　a　fact　that　the　fires　of　the
bivouac　had　grown　paler；　and　the　Emperor　had　reason　for　the　gravest
suspicions。　　Where　would　the　war　end　if　the　Russians　fell　back　now？　　He
re…entered　his　tent　much　agitated；　and　retired　to　bed　again；　repeating
many　times；　〃We　will　know　the　truth　to…morrow　morning。〃

On　the　7th　of　September；　the　sun　rose　in　a　cloudless　sky；　and　the　Emperor
exclaimed；　〃It　is　the　sun　of　Austerlitz！〃　These　words　of　the　Emperor　were
reported　to　the　army；　and　repeated　by　them　amid　great　enthusiasm。　　The
drums　were　beaten；　and　the　order　of　the　day　was　read　as　follows：

　　　　　SOLDIERS；Behold　the　battle　you　have　so　long　desired！　　Henceforth
　　　　　that　victory　depends　on　you　which　is　so　necessary　to　us；　since　it
　　　　　will　furnish　us　abundant　provisions；　good　winter　quarters；　and　a
　　　　　prompt　return　to　our　native　land。　　Conduct　yourselves　as　at
　　　　　Austerlitz；　at　Friedland；　at　Witepsk；　at　Smolensk；　and　let　the　most
　　　　　remote　posterity　refer　with　pride　to　your　conduct　on　this　day；　let
　　　　　it　be　said　of　you；　〃He　took　part　in　the　great　battle　under　the　walls
　　　　　of　Moscow。〃

The　army　replied　by　reiterated　acclamations。　　The　Emperor；　a　few　hours
before　the　battle；　had　dictated　this　proclamation；　and　it　was　read　in　the
morning　to　the　soldiers。　　Napoleon　was　then　on　the　heights　of　Borodino；
and　when　the　enthusiastic　cries　of　the　army　struck　his　ear；　he　was
standing　with　folded　arms；　the　sun　shining　full　in　his　eyes；　reflected
from　the　French　and　Russian　bayonets。　　He　smiled；　then　became　more
serious　until　the　affair　was　terminated。

On　that　day　the　portrait　of　the　King　of　Rome　was　brought　to　Napoleon。　　He
needed　some　gentle　emotion　to　divert　his　mind　from　this　state　of　anxious
suspense。　　He　held　this　portrait　long　on　his　knees；　contemplating　it　with
delight；　and　said　that　it　was　the　most　agreeable　surprise　he　had　ever
received；　and　repeated　several　times　in　a　low　tone；　〃My　good　Louise！
This　is　a　charming　attention！〃　　On　the　Emperor's　countenance　there　rested
an　expression　of　happiness　difficult　to　describe；　though　the　first
emotions　excited　were　calm　and　even　melancholy。　　〃The　dear　child；〃　was
all　that　he　said。　　But　he　experienced　all　the　pride　of　a　father　and　an
Emperor　when　by　his　orders　officers；　and　even　soldiers；　of　the　old　guard
came　to　see　the　King　of　Rome。　　The　portrait　was　placed　on　exhibition　in
front　of　the　tent；　and　it　was　inexpressibly　touching　to　see　these　old
soldiers　uncover　themselves　with　respect　before　this　image；　in　which　they
sought　to　find　some　of　the　features　of　Napoleon。　　The　Emperor　had　at　this
moment　the　expansive　joy　of　a　father　who　knows　well　that　next　to　him　his
son　has　no　better　friends　than　his　old　companions　in　endurance　and　glory。

At　four　o'clock　in　the　morning；　that　is　to　say　one　hour　before　the　battle
opened；　Napoleon　felt　a　great　exhaustion　in　his　whole　person；　and　had　a
slight　chill；　without　fever；　however；　and　threw　himself　on　his　bed。
Nevertheless；　he　was　not　as　ill　as　M。　de　Segur　states。　　He　had　had　for
some　time　a　severe　cold　that　he　had　somewhat　neglected；　and　which　was　so
much　increased　by　the　fatigue　of　this　memorable　day　that　he　lost　his
voice　almost　entirely。　　He　treated　this　with　the　soldier's　prescription；
and　drank　light　punch　during　the　whole　night；　which　he　spent　working　in
his　cabinet　without　being　able　to　speak。　　This　inconvenience　lasted　two
days；　but　on　the　9th　he　was　well；　and　his　hoarseness　almost　gone。

After　the　battle；　of　every　six　corpses　found；　one　would　be　French　and
five　Russian。　　At　noon　an　aide…de…camp　came　to　inform　the　Emperor　that
Count　Auguste　de　Caulaincourt；　brother　of　the　Duke　of　Vicenza；　had　been
struck　by　a　ball。　　The　Emperor　drew　a　deep　sigh；　but　said　not　a　word；　for
he　well　knew　that　his　heart　would　most　likely　be　saddened　more；　than　once
that　day。　　After　the　battle；　he　expressed　his　condolences　to　the　Duke　of
Vicenza　in　the　most　touching　manner。

Count　Auguste　de　Caulaincourt　was　a　young　man　full　of　courage；　who　had
left　his　young　wife　a　few　hours　after　his　marriage　to　follow　the　French
army；　and　to　find　a　glorious　death　at　the　battle　of　La　Moskwa。　　He　was
governor　of　the　pages　of　the　Emperor；　and　had　married　the　sister　of　one
of　his　charges。　　This　charming　person　was　so　y