napoleon bonaparte, v11-第1章

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！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！








RECOLLECTIONS　OF　THE　PRIVATE　LIFE　OF　NAPOLEON；　V11

BY　CONSTANT

PREMIER　VALET　DE　CHAMBRE




TRANSLATED　BY　WALTER　CLARK

1895




CONTENTS：
CHAPTER　XV。　　to　　CHAPTER　XXIII。




CHAPTER　XV。

During　the　second　day　of　the　battle　of　Dresden；　at　the　end　of　which　the
Emperor　had　the　attack　of　fever　I　mentioned　in　the　preceding　chapter；　the
King　of　Naples；　or　rather　Marshal　Murat；　performed　prodigies　of　valor。
Much　has　been　said　of　this　truly　extraordinary　prince；　but　only　those　who
saw　him　personally　could　form　a　correct　idea　of　him；　and　even　they　never
knew　him　perfectly　until　they　had　seen　him　on　a　field　of　battle。　　There
he　seemed　like　those　great　actors　who　produce　a　complete　illusion　amid
the　fascinations　of　the　stage；　but　in　whom　we　no　longer　find　the　hero
when　we　encounter　them　in　private　life。　　While　at　Paris　I　attended　a
representation　of　the　death　of　'Hector'　by　Luce　de　Lancival；　and　I　could
never　afterwards　hear　the　verses　recited　in　which　the　author　describes
the　effect　produced　on　the　Trojan　army　by　the　appearance　of　Achilles
without　thinking　of　Prince　Murat；　and　it　may　be　said　without　exaggeration
that　his　presence　produced　exactly　this　effect　the　moment　he　showed
himself　in　front　of　the　Austrian　lines。　　He　had　an　almost　gigantic
figure；　which　alone　would　have　sufficed　to　make　him　remarkable；　and　in
addition　to　this　sought　every　possible　means　to　draw　attention　to
himself；　as　if　he　wished　to　dazzle　those　who；　might　have　intended　to
attack　him。　　His　regular　and　strongly　marked　features；　his　handsome　blue
eyes　rolling　in　their　orbits；　enormous　mustaches；　and　black　hair　falling
in　long　ringlets　over　the　collar　of　a　kurtka　with　narrow　sleeves；　struck
the　attention　at　first　sight。　　Add　to　this　the　richest　and　most　elegant
costume　which　one　would　wear　even　at　the　theater；a　Polish　coat　richly
embroidered；　and　encircled　by　a　gilded　belt　from　which　hung　the　scabbard
of　a　light　sword；　with　a　straight　and　pointed　blade；　without　edge　and
without　guard；　large　amaranth…colored　pantaloons　embroidered　in　gold　on
the　seams；　and　nankeen　boots；　a　large　hat　embroidered　in　gold　with　a
border　of　white　feathers；　above　which　floated　four　large　ostrich　plumes
with　an　exquisite　heron　aigrette　in　the　midst；　and　finally　the　king's
horse；　always　selected　from　the　strongest　and　handsomest　that　could　be
found；　was　covered　with　an　elegantly　embroidered　sky…blue　cloth　which
extended　to　the　ground；　and　was　held　in　place　by　a　Hungarian　or　Turkish
saddle　of　the　richest　workmanship；　together　with　a　bridle　and　stirrups
not　less　magnificent　than　the　rest　of　the　equipment。　　All　these　things
combined　made　the　King　of　Naples　a　being　apart；　an　object　of　terror　and
admiration。　　But　what；　so　to　speak；　idealized　him　was　his　truly
chivalrous　bravery；　often　carried　to　the　point　of　recklessness；　as　if
danger　had　no　existence　for　him。　　In　truth；　this　extreme　courage　was　by
no　means　displeasing　to　the　Emperor；　and　though　he　perhaps　did　not　always
approve　of　the　manner　in　which　it　was　displayed；　his　Majesty　rarely
failed　to　accord　it　his　praise；　especially　when　he　thought　necessary　to
contrast　it　with　the　increasing　prudence　shown　by　some　of　his　old
companions　in　arms。

On　the　28th　the　Emperor　visited　the　battlefield；　which　presented　a
frightful　spectacle；　and　gave　orders　that　everything　possible　should　be
done　to　alleviate　the　sufferings　of　the　wounded；　and　also　of　the
inhabitants　and　peasants　who　had　been　ravaged　and　pillaged；　and　their
fields　and　houses　burned；　and　then　ascended　the　heights　from　which　he
could　follow　the　course　of　the　enemy's　retreat。　　Almost　all　the　household
followed　him　in　this　excursion。　　A　peasant　was　brought　to　him　from
Nothlitz；　a　small　village　where　the　Emperor　Alexander　and　the　King　of
Prussia　had　their　headquarters　during　the　two　preceding　days。　　This
peasant；　when　questioned　by　the　Duke　of　Vicenza；　said　he　had　seen　a　great
personage　brought　into　Nothlitz；　who　had　been　wounded　the　evening　before
on　the　staff　of　the　allies。　　He　was　on　horseback；　and　beside　the　Emperor
of　Russia；　at　the　moment　he　was　struck。　　The　Emperor　of　Russia　appeared
to　take　the　deepest　interest　in　his　fate。　　He　had　been　carried　to　the
headquarters　of　Nothlitz　on　lances　of　the　Cossacks　interlaced；　and　to
cover　him　they　could　find　only　a　cloak　wet　through　with　the　rain。　　On　his
arrival　at　Nothlitz　the　Emperor　Alexander's　surgeon　came　to　perform　the
amputation；　and　had　him　carried　on　an　extending　chair　to　Dippoldiswalde；
escorted　by　several　Austrian；　Prussian；　and　Russian　detachments。

On　learning　these　particulars　the　Emperor　was　persuaded　that　the　Prince
von　Schwarzenberg　was　the　person　in　question。　　〃He　was　a　brave　man；〃　said
he；　〃and　I　regret　him。〃　　Then　after　a　silent　pause；　〃It　is　then　he；〃
resumed　his　Majesty；　〃who　is　the　victim　of　the　fatality！　　I　have　always
been　oppressed　by　a　feeling　that　the　events　of　the　ball　were　a　sinister
omen；　but　it　is　very　evident　now　that　it　was　he　whom　the　presage
indicated。〃

While　the　Emperor　gave　himself　up　to　these　conjectures；　and　recalled　his
former　presentiments；　prisoners　who　were　brought　before　his　Majesty　had
been　questioned；　and　he　learned　from　their　reports　that　the　Prince　von
Schwarenzberg　had　not　been　wounded；　but　was　well；　and　was　directing　the
retreat　of　the　Austrian　grand　army。　　Who　was；　then；　the　important
personage　struck　by　a　French　cannonball？　　Conjectures　were　renewed　on
this　point；　when　the　Prince　de　Neuchatel　received　from　the　King　of　Saxony
a　collar　unfastened　from　the　neck　of　a　wandering　dog　which　had　been　found
at　Nothlitz。　　On　the　collar　was　written　these　words；　〃I　belong　to　General
Moreau。〃　　This　furnished；　of　course；　only　a　supposition；　but　soon　exact
information　arrived；　and　confirmed　this　conjecture。

Thus　Moreau　met　his　death　the　first　occasion　on　which　he　bore　arms
against　his　native　country；he　who　had　so　often　confronted　with　impunity
the　bullets　of　the　enemy。　　History　has　judged　him　severely；　nevertheless；
in　spite　of　the　coldness　which　had　so　long　divided　them；　I　can　assert
that　the　Emperor　did　not　learn　without　emotion　the　death　of　Moreau；
notwithstanding　his　indignation　that　so　celebrated　a　French　general　could
have　taken　up　arms　against　France；　and　worn　the　Russian　cockade。　　This
unexpected　death　produced　an　evident　effect　in　both　camps；　though　our
soldiers　saw　in　it　only　a　just　judgment　from　Heaven；　and　an　omen
favorable　to　the　Emperor。　　However　that　may　be；　these　are　the
particulars；　which　I　learned　a　short　time　after；　as　they　were　related　by
the　valet　de　chambre　of　General　Moreau。

The　three　sovereigns　of　Russia；　Austria；　and　Prussia　had　been　present　on
the　27th　at　the　battle　on　the　heights　of　Nothlitz；　but　had　retired　as
soon　as　they　saw　that　the　battle　was　lost。　　That　very　day　General　Moreau
was　wounded　by　a　cannon…ball　near　the　intrenchments　in　front　of　Dresden；
and　about　four　o'clock　in　the　afternoon　was　conveyed　to　Nothlitz；　to　the
country　house　of　a　merchant　named　Salir；　where　the　Emperors　of　Austria
and　Russia　had　established　their　headquarters。　　Both　limbs　of　the　general
were　amputated　above　the　knee。　　After　the　amputation；　as　he　requested
something　to　eat　and　a　cup　of　tea；　three　eggs　were　brought　him　on　a
plate；　but　he　took　only　the　tea。　　About　seven　o'clock　he　was　placed　on　a
litter；　and　carried　to　Passendorf　by　Russian　soldiers；　and　passed　the
night　in　the　country　house　of　M。　Tritschier；　grand　master　of　forests。
There　he　took　only　another　cup　of　tea；　and　complained　greatly　of　the
sufferings　he　endured。　　The　next　day；　the　28th　of　August；　at　four　o'clock
in　the　morning；　he　was　conveyed；　still　by　Russian　soldiers；　from
Passendorf　to　Dippodiswalde；　where　he　took　a　little　white　bread　and　a
glass　of　lemonade　at　the　house　of　a　baker　named　Watz。　　An　hour　after　he
was　carried　nearer　to　the　frontiers　of　Bohemia；　borne　by　Russian　soldiers
in　the　body　of　a　coach　taken　off　the　wheels。　　During　the　entire　route　he
incessantly　uttered　cries　which　the　extremity　of　his　sufferings　drew　from
him。

These　are　the　details　which　I　learned　in　regard　to　Moreau；　and；　as　is
well　known；　he　did　not　long　survive　his　wound。　　The　same　ball　which　broke
both　his　legs　carried　off　an　arm　from　Prince　Ipsilanti；　then　aide…de…camp
to　the　Emperor　Alexander；　so　that　if　the　evil　that　is　done　can　be
repaired　by　the　evil　received；　it　might　be　said　that　the　cannon…shot
which　tore　away　from　us　General　Kirgener　and　Marshal　Duroc　was　this　day
sent　back　on　the　enemy。　　But　alas！　　it　is　a　sad　sort　of　consolation　that
is　drawn　from　reprisals。

It　may　be　seen　from　the　above；　and　especially　from　the　seemingly　decisive
benefits　arising　from　the　battle　of　Dresden；　that　since　the　resumption　of
hostilities；　in　every　place　where　our　troops　had　been　sustained　by　the
all…powerful　presence　of　the　Emperor；　they　had　obtained　successes；　but
unfortunately　this　was　not　the　case　at　points　distant　from　the　main　line
of　operations。　　Nevertheless；　seeing　the　allies　routed　by　the　army　which
he　commanded　in　person；　and　certain；　moreover；　that　General　Vandamme　had
held　the　position　which　he　had　indicated　to　him　through　General　Haxo；　his
Majesty　returned　to　his　first　idea　of　marching　on　Berlin；　and　already
even　had　disposed　his　troops　with　this　intention；　when　the　fatal　news
arrived　that　Vandamme；　the　victim　of　his　own　rashness；　had　disappeared
from　the　field　of　battle；　and　his　ten　thousand　men；　surrounded　on　all
sides；　and　overwhelmed　by　numbers；　had　been　cut　to　pieces。　　It　was
believed　that　Vandamme　was　dead；　and　it　was　not　until　later　we　learned
that　he　had　been　taken　prisoner　with　a　part　of　his　troop。　　It　was　learned
also　that　Vandamme；　incited　by　his　natural　intrepidity；　and　unable　to
resist　a　desire　to　attack　the　enemy　whom　he　saw　within　his　grasp；　had
left　his　intrenchments　to　make　the　attack。　　He　had　conquered　at　first；
but　when　after　his　victory　he　attempted　to　resume　his　former　position　he
found　it　occupied；　as　the　Prussians　had　seized　it；　and　though　he　fought
with　all　the　abandon　of　despair；　it　was　all　in　vain；　and　General　Kleist；
proud　of　this　fine　trophy；　conducted　him　in　triumph　to　Prague。　　It　was
while　speaking　of　this　audacious　attack　of　Vandamme　that　the　Emperor　used
this　expression；　which　has　been　so　justly　admired；　〃For　a　retreating
enemy　it　is　necessary　to　make　a　bridge　of　gold；　or　oppose　a　wall　of
brass。〃　　The　Emperor　heard　with　his　usual　imperturbability　the
particulars　of　the　loss　he　had　just　experienced；　but　nevertheless
repeatedly　expressed　his　astonishment　at　the　deplorable　recklessness　of
Vandamme；　and　said　he　could　not　comprehend　how　this　experienced　general
could　have　allowed　himself　to　be　drawn　away　from　his　position。　　But　the
deed　was　done；　and　in　such　instances　the　Emperor　never　lost　time　in
useless　recriminations。　　〃Come；〃　said　he；　addressing　the　Duke　of　Bassano；
〃you　have　just　heardthat　means　war　from　early　in　the　morning　until　late
in　the　evening。〃

After　giving　various　orders　to　the　army　and　his　chiefs；　the　Emperor　left
Dresden　on　the　evening　of　the　3d　of　September；　with　the　intention　of
regaining　what　he　had　lost　from　the　audacious　imprudence　of　General
Vandamme。　　But　this　defeat；　the　first　we　had　sustained　since　the
resumption　of　hostiliti