napoleon bonaparte, v5-第3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！


scenes　were　often　repeated；　for　the　prince　was　dissipated　and　prodigal；
which　displeased　the　Emperor　above　all　things　else；　and　for　which　he
reproved　him　severely；　although　he　loved　him；　or　rather　because　he　loved
him　so　much；　for　it　is　remarkable；　that　notwithstanding　the　frequent
causes　of　displeasure　which　his　family　gave　him；　the　Emperor　still　felt
for　all　his　relations　the　warmest　affection。

A　short　time　after　the　taking　of　Dantzig　（May　24；　1807）；　the　Emperor；
wishing　to　reward　Marshal　Lefebvre　for　the　recent　services　which　he　had
rendered；　had　him　summoned　at　six　o'clock　in　the　morning。　　His　Majesty
was　in　consultation　with　the　chief…of…staff　of　the　army　when　the　arrival
of　the　marshal　was　announced。　　〃Ah！〃　　said　he　to　Berthier；　〃the　duke　does
not　delay。〃　　Then；　turning　to　the　officer　on　duty；　〃　Say　to　the　Duke　of
Dantzig　that　I　have　summoned　him　so　early　in　order　that　he　may　breakfast
with　me。〃　　The　officer；　thinking　that　the　Emperor　had　misunderstood　the
name；　remarked　to　him；　that　the　person　who　awaited　his　orders　was　not　the
Duke　of　Dantzig；　but　Marshal　Lefebvre。　　〃It　seems；　monsieur；　that　you
think　me　more　capable　of　making　a　count　＇faire　un　conte＇　than　a　duke。〃

The　officer　was　somewhat　disconcerted　by　this　reply；　but　the　Emperor
reassured　him　with　a　smile；　and　said；　〃Go；　give　the　duke　my　invitation；
and　say　to　him　that　in　a　quarter　of　an　hour　breakfast　will　be　served。〃
The　officer　returned　to　the　marshal；　who　was；　of　course；　very　anxious　to
know　why　the　Emperor　had　summoned　him。　　〃Monsieur　le　Due；　the　Emperor
invites　you　to　breakfast　with　him；　and　begs　you　to　wait　a　quarter　of　an
hour。〃　　The　marshal；　not　having　noticed　the　new　title　which　the　officer
gave　him；　replied　by　a　nod；　and　seated　himself　on　a　folding　chair　on　the
back　of　which　hung　the　Emperor's　sword；　which　the　marshal　inspected　and
touched　with　admiration　and　respect。　　The　quarter　of　an　hour　passed；　when
another　ordnance　officer　came　to　summon　the　marshal　to　the　Emperor；　who
was　already　at　table　with　the　chief…of…staff；　and　as　he　entered；　the
Emperor　saluted　him　with；　〃Good…day；　Monsieur　le　Due；　be　seated　next　to
me。〃

The　marshal；　astonished　at　being　addressed　by　this　title；　thought　at
first　that　his　Majesty　was　jesting；　but　seeing　that　he　made　a　point　of
calling　him　Monsieur　le；　Due　he　was　overcome　with　astonishment。　　The
Emperor；　to　increase　his　embarrassment；　said　to　him；　〃Do　you　like
chocolate；　Monsieur　le　Duc？〃〃Butyes；　Sire。〃〃Well；　we　have　none　for
breakfast；　but　I　will　give　you　a　pound　from　the　very　town　of　Dantzig；　for
since　you　have　conquered　it；　it　is　but　just　that　it　should　make　you　some
return。〃　　Thereupon　the　Emperor　left　the　table；　opened　a　little　casket；
took　therefrom　a　package　in　the　shape　of　a　long　square；　and　handed　it　to
Marshal　Lefebvre；　saying　to　him；　〃Duke　of　Dantzig；　accept　this　chocolate；
little　gifts　preserve　friendship。〃　　The　marshal　thanked　his　Majesty；　put
the　chocolate　in　his　pocket；　and　took　his　seat　again　at　table　with　the
Emperor　and　Marshal　Berthier。　　A　'pate'　in　the　shape　of　the　town　of
Dantzig　was　in　the　midst　of　the　table；　and　when　this　was　to　be　served　the
Emperor　said　to　the　new　duke；　〃They　could　not　have　given　this　dish　a　form
which　would　have　pleased　me　more。　　Make　the　attack；　Monsieur　le　Duc；
behold　your　conquest；　it　is　yours　to　do　the　honors。〃　　The　duke　obeyed；
and　the　three　guests　ate　of　the　pie；　which　they　found　much　to　their
taste。　　On　his　return；　the　marshal；　Duke　of　Dantzig；　suspecting　a
surprise　in　the　little　package　which　the　Emperor　had　given　him；　hastened
to　open　it；　and　found　a　hundred　thousand　crowns　in　bank…notes。　　In
imitation　of　this　magnificent　present；　the　custom　was　established　in　the
army　of　calling　money；　whether　in　pieces　or　in　bank…notes；　Dantzig
chocolate；　and　when　the　soldiers　wished　to　be　treated　by　any　comrade　who
happened　to　have　a　little　money　in　his　pocket；　would　say　to　him；　〃Come；
now；　have　you　no　Dantzig　chocolate　in　your　pocket？〃

The　almost　superstitious　fancy　of　his　Majesty　the　Emperor　in　regard　to
coincidences　in　dates　and　anniversaries　was　strengthened　still　more　by
the　victory　of　Friedland；　which　was　gained　on　June　14；　1807；　seven　years
to　the　very　day　after　the　battle　of　Marengo。　　The　severity　of　the　winter；
the　difficulty　in　furnishing　supplies　（for　which　the　Emperor　had　however
made　every　possible　provision　and　arrangement）；　added　to　the　obstinate
courage　of　the　Russians；　had　made　this　a　severe　campaign；　especially　to
conquerors　whom　the　incredible　rapidity　of　their　successes　in　Prussia　had
accustomed　to　sudden　conquests。　　The　division　of　glory　which　he　had　been
compelled　to　make　with　the　Russians　was　a　new　experience　in　the　Emperor's
military　career；　but　at　Friedland　he　regained　his　advantage　and　his
former　superiority。　　His　Majesty；　by　a　feigned　retreat；　in　which　he　let
the　enemy　see　only　a　part　of　his　forces；　drew　the　Russians　into　a　decoy
on　the　Elbe；　so　complete　that　they　found　themselves　shut　in　between　that
river　and　our　army。　　This　victory　was　gained　by　troops　of　the　line　and
cavalry；　and　the　Emperor　did　not　even　find　it　necessary　to　use　his
Guards；　while　those　of　the　Emperor　Alexander　was　almost　entirely
destroyed　in　protecting　the　retreat；　or　rather　the　flight；　of　the
Russians；　who　could　escape　from　the　pursuit　of　our　soldiers　only　by　the
bridge　of　Friedland；　a　few　narrow　pontoons；　and　an　almost　impassable
ford。

The　regiments　of　the　line　in　the　French　army　covered　the　plain；　and　the
Emperor；　occupying　a　post　of　observation　on　a　height　whence　he　could
overlook　the　whole　field　of　battle；　was　seated　in　an　armchair　near　a
mill；　surrounded　by　his　staff。　　I　never　saw　him　in　a　gayer　mood；　as　he
conversed　with　the　generals　who　awaited　his　orders；　and　seemed　to　enjoy
eating　the　black　Russian　bread　which　was　baked　in　the　shape　of　bricks。
This　bread；　made　from　inferior　rye　flour　and　full　of　long　straws；　was　the
food　of　all　the　soldiers；　and　they　knew　that　his　Majesty　ate　it　as　well
as　themselves。　　The　beautiful　weather　favored　the　skillful　maneuvers　of
the　army；　and　they　performed　prodigies　of　valor。　　The　cavalry　charges
especially　were　executed　with　so　much　precision　that　the　Emperor　sent　his
congratulations　to　the　regiments。

About　four　o'clock　in　the　afternoon；　when　the　two　armies　were　pressing
each　other　on　every　side；　and　thousands　of　cannon　caused　the　earth　to
tremble；　the　Emperor　exclaimed；　〃If　this　continues　two　hours　longer；　the
French　army　will　be　left　standing　on　the　plain　alone。〃　　A　few　moments
after　he　gave　orders　to　the　Count　Dorsenne；　　general　of　the　foot
grenadiers　of　the　Old　Guard；　to　fire　on　a　brick…yard；　behind　which　masses
of　Russians　and　Prussians　were　intrenched；　and　in　the　twinkling　of　an　eye
they　were　compelled　to　abandon　this　position；　and　a　horde　of
sharpshooters　set　out　in　pursuit　of　the　fugitives。

The　Guard　made　this　movement　at　five　o'clock；　and　at　six　the　battle　was
entirely　won。　　The　Emperor　said　to　those　who　were　near　him；　while
admiring　the　splendid　behavior　of　the　Guard；　〃Look　at　those　brave
fellows；　with　a　good…will　they　would　run　over　the　stone…slingers　and　pop…
guns　of　the　line；　in　order　to　teach　them　to　charge　without　waiting　for
them；　but　it　would　have　been　useless；　as　the　work　has　been　well　done
without　them。〃

His　Majesty　went　in　person　to　compliment　several　regiments　which　had
fought　the　whole　day。　　A　few　words；　a　smile；　a　salute　of　the　hand；　even　a
nod；　was　sufficient　recompense　to　these　brave　fellows　who　had　just　been
crowned　with　victory。

The　number　of　the　dead　and　prisoners　was　enormous；　and　seventy　banners；
with　all　the　equipments　of　the　Russian　army；　were　left　in　the　hands　of
the　French。

After　this　decisive　day；　the　Emperor　of　Russia；　who　had　rejected　the
proposals　made　by　his　Majesty　after　the　battle　of　Eylau；　found　himself
much　disposed　to　make　the　game　on　his　own　account；　and　General　Bennigsen
consequently　demanded　an　armistice　in　the　name　of　his　Emperor；　which　his
Majesty　granted；　and　a　short　time　after　a　treaty　of　peace　was　signed；　and
the　famous　interview　between　the　two　sovereigns　held　on　the　banks　of　the
Niemen。　　I　shall　pass　over　rapidly　the　details　of　this　meeting；　which
have　been　published　and　repeated　innumerable　times。　　His　Majesty　and　the
young　Czar　conceived　a　mutual　affection　from　the　first　moment　of　their
meeting；　and　each　gave　fetes　and　amusements　in　honor　of　the　other。　　They
were　in　inseparable　in　public　and　private；　and　passed　hours　together　in
meetings　for　pleasure　only；　from　which　all　intruders　were　carefully
excluded。　　The　town　of　Tilsit　was　declared　neutral；　and　French；　Russians；
and　Prussians　followed　the　example　set　them　by　their　sovereigns；　and
lived　together　in　the　most　intimate　brotherhood。

The　King　and　Queen　of　Prussia　soon　after　joined　their　Imperial　Majesties
at　Tilsit；　though　this　unfortunate　monarch；　to　whom　there　remained　hardly
one　town　of　the　whole　kingdom　he　had　possessed；　was　naturally　little
disposed　to　take　part　in　so　much　festivity。　　The　queen　was　beautiful　and
graceful；　though　perhaps　somewhat　haughty　and　severe；　which　did　not
prevent　her　being　adored　by　all　who　surrounded　her。　　The　Emperor　sought
to　please　her；　and　she　neglected　none　of　the　innocent　coquetries　of　her
sex　in　order　to　soften　the　heart　of　the　conqueror　of　her　husband。　　The
queen　several　times　dined　with　the　sovereigns；　seated　between　the　two
Emperors；　who　vied　with　each　other　in　overwhelming　her　with　attentions
and　gallantries。　　It　is　well　known　that　the　Emperor　Napoleon　offered　her
one　day　a　splendid　rose；　which　after　some　hesitation　she　accepted；　saying
to　his　Majesty　with　a　most　charming　smile；　〃With　Magdeburg；　at　least。〃
And　it　is　well　known　also　that　the　Emperor　did　not　accept　the　condition。

The　princess　had　among　her　ladies　of　honor　a　very　old　woman；　who　was　most
highly　esteemed。　　One　evening　as　the　queen　was　being　escorted　into　the
dining…hall　by　the　two　Emperors；　followed　by　the　King　of　Prussia；　Prince
Murat；　and　the　Grand　Duke　Constantine；　this　old　lady　of　honor　gave　way　to
the　two　latter　princes。　　Grand　Duke　Constantine　would　not　take　precedence
of　her；　but　entirely　spoiled　this　act　of　politeness　by　exclaiming　in　a
rude　tone；　〃Pass；　madame；　pass　on！〃　　And　turning　towards　the　King　of
Naples；　added；　loud　enough　to　be　heard；　this　disgraceful　exclamation；
〃The　old　woodcock！〃

One　may　judge　from　this　that　Prince　Constantine　was　far　from　exhibiting
towards　ladies　that　exquisite　politeness　and　refined　gallantry　which
distinguished　his　august　brother。

The　French　Imperial　Guard　on　one　occasion　gave　a　dinner　to　the　guard　of
the　Emperor　Alexander。　　At　the　end　of　this　exceedingly　gay　and　fraternal
banquet；　each　French　soldier　exchanged　uniforms　with　a　Russian；　and
promenaded　thus　before　the　eyes　of　the　Emperors；　who　were　much　amused　by
this　impromptu　disguise。

Among　the　numerous　attentions　paid　by　the　Russian　Emperor　to　our　own；
I　would　mention　a　concert　by　a　troop　of　Baskir　musicians；　whom　their
sovereign　brought　over　the　Niemen　for　this　purpose；　and　never　certainly
did　more　barbarous　music　resound　in　the　ears　of　his　Majesty；　and　this
strange　harmony；　accompanied　by　gestures　equally　as　savage；　furnished　one
of　the　most　amusing　spectacles　that　can　be　imagin