napoleon bonaparte, v3-第10章

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when　I　saw　for　the　first　time　the　charming　piece　of　The　Two　Pages。
Fleury　in　the　role　of　Frederick　the　Great　reproduced　so　perfectly　the
slow　walk；　the　dry　tones；　the　sudden　movements；　and　even　the　short…
sightedness　of　this　monarch；　that　as　soon　as　he　appeared　on　the　stage　the
whole　house　burst　into　applause。　　It　was；　in　the　opinion　of　persons
sufficiently　well　informed　to　judge；　a　most　perfect　and　faithful
presentation；　and　though　for　my　own　part；　I　was　not　able　to　say　whether
the　resemblance　was　perfect　or　not；　I　felt　that　it　must　be。　　Michelot；
whom　I　have　since　seen　in　the　same　role；　gave　me　no　less　pleasure　than
his　predecessor；　and　it　is　evident　that　both　these　talented　actors　must
have　studied　the　subject　deeply；　to　have　learned　so　thoroughly　and
depicted　so　faithfully　the　characteristics　of　their　model。

I　must　confess　a　feeling　of　pride　in　the　thought　that　these　memoirs　may
perhaps　excite　in　my　readers　some　of　the　same　pleasurable　emotions　which
I　have　here　attempted　to　describe；　and　that　perhaps　in　a　future；　which
will　inevitably　come；　though　far　distant　now　perhaps；　the　artist　who　will
attempt　to　restore　to　life；　and　hold　up　to　the　view　of　the　world；　the
greatest　man　of　this　age；　will　be　compelled；　in　order　to　give　a　faithful
delineation；　to　take　for　his　model　the　portrait　which　I；　better　than　any
one　else；　have　been　able　to　draw　from　fife。　　I　think　that　no　one　has　done
this　as　yet；　certainly　not　so　much　in　detail。

On　his　return　from　Egypt　the　Emperor　was　very　thin　and　sallow；　his　skin
was　copper…colored；　his　eyes　sunken；　and　his　figure；　though　perfect；　also
very　thin。　　The　likeness　is　excellent　in　the　portrait　which　Horace　Vernet
drew　in。　　his　picture　called　〃A　Review　of　the　First　Consul　on　the　Place
du　Carrousel。〃　　His　forehead　was　very　high；　and　bare；　his　hair　thin；
especially　on　the　temples；　but　very　fine　and　soft；　and　a　rich　brown
color；　his　eyes　deep　blue；　expressing　in　an　almost　incredible　manner　the
various　emotions　by　which　he　was　affected；　sometimes　extremely　gentle　and
caressing；　sometimes　severe；　and　even　inflexible。　　His　mouth　was　very
fine；　his　lips　straight　and　rather　firmly　closed；　particularly　when
irritated。　　His　teeth；　without　being　very　regular；　were　very　white　and
sound；　and　he　never　suffered　from　them。　　His　nose　of　Grecian　shape；　was
well　formed；　and　his　sense　of　smell　perfect。　　His　whole　frame　was
handsomely　proportioned；　though　at　this　time　his　extreme　leanness
prevented　the　beauty　of　his　features　being　especially　noticed；　and　had　an
injurious　effect　on　his　whole　physiognomy。

It　would　be　necessary　to　describe　his　features　separately；　one　by　one；　in
order　to　form　a　correct　idea　of　the　whole；　and　comprehend　the　perfect
regularity　and　beauty　of　each。　　His　head　was　very　large；　being　twenty…two
inches　in　circumference；　it　way　a　little　longer　than　broad；　consequently
a　little　flattened　on　the　temples；　it　was　so　extremely　sensitive；　that　I
had　his　hats　padded；　and　took　the　trouble　to　wear　them　several　days　in　my
room　to　break　them。　　His　ears　were　small；　perfectly　formed；　and　well　set。
The　Emperor's　feet　were　also　very　tender；　and　I　had　his　shoes　broken　by　a
boy　of　the　wardrobe；　called　Joseph；　who　wore　exactly　the　same　size　as　the
Emperor。

His　height　was　five　feet；　two　inches；　three　lines。　He　had　a　rather　short
neck；　sloping　shoulders；　broad　chest；　almost　free　from　hairs；　well　shaped
leg　and　thigh；　a　small　foot；　and　well　formed　fingers；　entirely　free　from
enlargements　or　abrasions；　his　arms　were　finely　molded；　and　well　hung　to
his　body；　his　hands　were　beautiful；　and　the　nails　did　not　detract　from
their　beauty。　　He　took　the　greatest　care　of　them；　as　in　fact　of　his　whole
person；　without　foppishness；　however。　　He　often　bit　his　nails　slightly；
which　was　a　sign　of　impatience　or　preoccupation。

Later　on　he　grew　much　stouter；　but　without　losing　any　of　the　beauty　of
his　figure；　on　the　contrary；　he　was　handsomer　under　the　Empire　than　under
the　Consulate；　his　skin　had　become　very　white；　and　his　expression
animated。

The　Emperor；　during　his　moments；　or　rather　his　long　hours；　of　labor　and
of　meditation；　was　subject　to　a　peculiar　spasmodic　movement；　which　seemed
to　be　a　nervous　affection；　and　which　clung　to　him　all　his　life。　　It
consisted　in　raising　his　right　shoulder　frequently　and　rapidly；　and
persons　who　were　not　acquainted　with　this　habit　sometimes　interpreted
this　as　a　gesture　of　disapprobation　and　dissatisfaction；　and　inquired
with　anxiety　in　what　way　they　could　have　offended　him。　　He；　however；　was
not　at　all　affected　by　it；　and　repeated　the　same　movement　again　and　again
without　being　conscious　of　it。

One　most　remarkable　peculiarity　was　that　the　Emperor　never　felt　his　heart
beat。　　He　mentioned　this　often　to　M。　Corvisart；　as　well　as　to　me；　and
more　than　once　he　made　us　pass　our　hands　over　his　breast；　in　order　to
prove　this　singular　exception。　　Never　did　we　feel　the　slightest
pulsation。＇Another　peculiarity　was　that　his　pulse　was　only　forty　to　the
minute。＇

The　Emperor　ate　very　fast；　and　hardly　spent　a　dozen　minutes　at　the　table。
When　he　had　finished　he　arose；　and　passed　into　the　family　saloon；　but　the
Empress　Josephine　remained；　and　made　a　sign　to　the　guests　to　do　the　same。
Sometimes；　however；　she　followed　his　Majesty；　and　then；　no　doubt；　the
ladies　of　the　palace　indemnified　themselves　in　their　apartments；　where
whatever　they　wished　was　served　them。

One　day　when　Prince　Eugene　rose　from　the　table　immediately　after　the
Emperor；　the　latter；　turning　to　him；　said；　〃But　you　have　not　had　time　to
dine；　Eugene。〃〃Pardon　me；〃　replied　the　Prince；　〃I　dined　in　advance！〃
The　other　guests　doubtless　found　that　this　was　not　a　useless　precaution。
It　was　before　the　Consulate　that　things　happened　thus；　for　afterwards　the
Emperor；　even　when　he　was　as　yet　only　First　Consul；　dined　tete…a…tete
with　the　Empress；　except　when　he　invited　some　of　the　ladies　of　the
household；　sometimes　one；　sometimes　another；　all　of　whom　appreciated
highly　this　mark　of　favor。　　At　this　time　there　was　already　a　court。

Most　frequently　the　Emperor　breakfasted　alone；　on　a　little　mahogany
candle…stand　with　no　cover；　which　meal；　even　shorter　than　the　other；
lasted　only　eight　or　ten　minutes。

I　will　mention；　later　on；　the　bad　effects　which　the　habit　of　eating　too
quickly　often　produced　on　the　Emperor's　health。　　Besides　this；　and　due　in
a　great　measure　to　his　haste；　the　Emperor　lacked　much　of　eating　decently；
and　always　preferred　his　fingers　to　a　fork　or　spoon。　　Much　care　was　taken
to　place　within　his　reach　the　dish　he　preferred；　which　he　drew　toward　him
in　the　manner　I　have　just　described；　and　dipped　his　bread　in　the　sauce　or
gravy　it　contained；　which　did　not；　however；　prevent　the　dish　being　handed
round；　and　those　eating　from　it　who　could；　and　there　were　few　guests　who
could　not。

I　have　seen　some　who　even　appeared　to　consider　this　singular　act　of
courage　a　means　of　making　their　court。　　I　can　easily　understand　also　that
with　many　their　admiration　for　his　Majesty　silenced　all　repugnance；　for
the　same　reason　that　we　do　not　scruple　to　eat　from　the　plate；　or　drink
from　the　glass；　of　a　person　whom　we　love；　even　though　it　might　be
considered　doubtful　on　the　score　of　refinement；　this　is　never　noticed
because　love　is　blind。　　The　dish　which　the　Emperor　preferred　was　the　kind
of　fried　chicken　to　which　this　preference　of　the　conqueror　of　Italy　has
given　the　name　of　poulet　a　la　Marengo。　　He　also　ate　with　relish　beans；
lentils；　cutlets；　roast　mutton；　and　roast　chicken。　　The　simplest　dishes
were　those　he　liked　best；　but　he　was　fastidious　in　the　article　of　bread。
It　is　not　true；　as　reported；　that　he　made　an　immoderate　use　of　coffee；
for　he　only　took　half　a　cup　after　breakfast；　and　another　after　dinner；
though　it　sometimes　happened　when　he　was　much　preoccupied　that　he　would
take；　without　noticing　it；　two　cups　in　succession；　though　coffee　taken　in
this　quantity　always　excited　him　and　kept　him　from　sleeping。

It　also　happened　frequently　that　he　took　it　cold；　or　without　sugar；　or
with　too　much　sugar。　　To　avoid　all　which　mischances；　the　Empress
Josephine　made　it　her　duty　to　pour　out　the　Emperor's　coffee　herself；　and
the　Empress　Marie　Louise　also　adopted　the　same　custom。　　When　the　Emperor
had　risen　from　the　table　and　entered　the　little　saloon；　a　page　followed
him；　carrying　on　a　silvergilt　waiter　a　coffee…pot；　sugar…dish　and　cup。
Her　Majesty　the　Empress　poured　out　the　coffee；　put　sugar　in　it；　tried　a
few　drops　of　it；　and　offered　it　to　the　Emperor。

The　Emperor　drank　only　Chambertin　　wine；　and　rarely　without　water；　for　he
had　no　fondness　for　wine；　and　was　a　poor　judge　of　it。　　This　recalls　that
one　day　at　the　camp　of　Boulogne；　having　invited　several　officers　to　his
table；　his　Majesty　had　wine　poured　for　Marshal　Augereau；　and　asked　him
with　an　air　of　satisfaction　how　he　liked　it。　　The　Marshal　tasted　it；
sipped　it　critically；　and　finally　replied；　〃There　is　better；〃　in　a　tone
which　was　unmistakable。　　The　Emperor；　who　had　expected　a　different　reply；
smiled；　as　did　all　the　guests；　at　the　Marshal's　candor。

Every　one　has　heard　it　said　that　his　Majesty　used　great　precautions
against　being　poisoned；　which　statement　must　be　placed　beside　that
concerning　the　cuirass　proof　against　bullet　and　dagger。　　On　the　contrary；
the　Emperor　carried　his　want　of　precaution　only　too　far。　　His　breakfast
was　brought　every　day　into　an　antechamber　open　to　all　to　whom　had　been
granted　a　private　audience；　and　who　sometimes　waited　there　for　several
hours；　and　his　Majesty's　breakfast　also　waited　a　long　time。　　The　dishes
were　kept　as　warm　as　possible　until　he　came　out　of　his　cabinet；　and　took
his　seat　at　the　table。　　Their　Majesties'　dinner　was　carried　from　the
kitchen　to　the　upper　rooms　in　covered；　hampers；　and　there　was　every
opportunity　of　introducing　poison；　but　in　spite　of　all　this；　never　did
such　an　idea　enter　the　minds　of　the　people　in　his　service；　whose　devotion
and　fidelity　to　the　Emperor；　even　including　the　very　humblest；　surpassed
any　idea　I　could　convey。

The　habit　of　eating　rapidly　sometimes　caused　his　Majesty　violent　pains　in
his　stomach；　which　ended　almost　always　in　a　fit　of　vomiting。

One　day　the　valet　on　duty　came　in　great　haste　to　tell　me　that　the　Emperor
desired　my　presence　immediately。　　His　dinner　had　caused　indigestion；　and
he　was　suffering　greatly。　　I　hurried　to　his　Majesty's　room；　and　found　him
stretched　at　full　length　on　the　rug；　which　was　a　habit　of　the　Emperor
when　he　felt　unwell。　　The　Empress　Josephine　was　seated　by　his　side；　with
the　sick　man's　head　on　her　lap；　while　he　groaned　or　stormed　alternately；
or　did　both　at　once：　for　the　Emperor　bore　this　kind　of　misfortune　with
less　composure　than　a　thousand　graver　mischances　which　the　life　of　a
soldier　carries　with　it；　and　the　hero　of　Arcola；　whose　life　had　been
endangered　in　a　hundred　battles；　and　elsewhere　also；　without　lessening
his　fortitude；　showed　himself　unequal　to　the　endurance　of　the　slightest
pain。　　Her　Majesty　the　Empress　consoled　and　encouraged　him　as　best　she
could；　and　she；　who　was　so　courageous　herself　in　enduring　those　headaches
which；　on　account　of　their　excessive　violence；　were　a　genuine　disease；
would；　had　it　been　possible；　have　taken　on　herself　most　willingly　the
ai