napoleon bonaparte, v3-第11章

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which；　on　account　of　their　excessive　violence；　were　a　genuine　disease；
would；　had　it　been　possible；　have　taken　on　herself　most　willingly　the
ailment　of　her　husband；　from　which　she　suffered　almost　as　much　as　he　did；
in　witnessing　his　sufferings。　　〃Constant；〃　said　she；　as　I　entered；　〃come
quick；　the　Emperor　needs　you；　make　him　some　tea；　and　do　not　go　out　till
he　is　better。〃　　His　Majesty　had　scarcely　taken　three　cups　before　the　pain
decreased；　while　she　continued　to　hold　his　head　on　her　knees；　pressing
his　brow　with　her　white；　plump　hands；　and　also　rubbing　his　breast。　　〃You
feel　better；　do　you　not？　　Would　you　like　to　lie　down　a　little　while？　　I
will　stay　by　your　bed　with　Constant。〃　　This　tenderness　was　indeed
touching；　especially　in　one　occupying　so　elevated　a　rank。

My　intimate　service　often　gave　me　the　opportunity　of　enjoying　this
picture　of　domestic　felicity。　　While　I　am　on　the　subject　of　the　Emperor's
ailments；　I　will　say　a　few　words　concerning　the　most　serious　which　he
endured；　with　the　exception　of　that　which　caused　his　death。

At　the　siege　of　Toulon；　in　1793；　the　Emperor　being　then　only　colonel　of
artillery；　a　cannoneer　was　killed　at　his　gun；　and　Colonel　Bonaparte
picked　up　the　rammer　and　rammed　home　the　charge　several　times。　　The
unfortunate　artilleryman　had　an　itch　of　the　most　malignant　kind；　which
the　Emperor　caught；　and　of　which　he　was　cured　only　after　many　years；　and
the　doctors　thought　that　his　sallow　complexion　and　extreme　leanness；
which　lasted　so　long　a　time；　resulted　from　this　disease　being　improperly
treated。　　At　the　Tuileries　he　took　sulphur　baths；　and　wore　for　some　time
a　blister　plaster；　having　suffered　thus　long　because；　as　he　said；　he　had
not　time　to　take　care　of　himself。　　Corvisart　warmly　insisted　on　a
cautery；　but　the　Emperor；　who　wished　to　preserve　unimpaired　the
shapeliness　of　his　arm；　would　not　agree　to　this　remedy。

It　was　at　this　same　siege　that　he　was　promoted　from　the　rank　of　chief　of
battalion　to　that　of　colonel　in　consequence　of　a　brilliant　affair　with
the　English；　in　which　he　received　a　bayonet　wound　in　the　left　thigh；　the
scar　of　which　he　often　showed　me。　　The　wound　in　the　foot　which　he
received　at　the　battle　of　Ratisbonne　left　no　trace；　and　yet；　when　the
Emperor　received　it；　the　whole　army　became　alarmed。

We　were　about　twelve　hundred　yards　from　Ratisbonne；　when　the　Emperor；
seeing　the　Austrians　fleeing　on　all　sides；　thought　the　combat　was　over。
His　dinner　had　been　brought　in　a　hamper　to　a　place　which　the　Emperor　had
designated；　and　as　he　was　walking　towards　it；　he　turned　to　Marshal
Berthier；　and　exclaimed；　〃I　am　wounded！〃　The　shock　was　so　great　that　the
Emperor　fell　in　a　sitting　posture；　a　bullet　having；　in　fact；　struck　his
heel。　　From　the　size　of　this　ball　it　was　apparent　that　it　had　been　fired
by　a　Tyrolean　rifleman；　whose　weapon　easily　carried　the　distance　we　were
from　the　town。　　It　can　well　be　understood　that　such　an　event　troubled　and
frightened　the　whole　staff。

An　aide…de…camp　summoned　me；　and　when　I　arrived　I　found　Dr。　Yvan　cutting
his　Majesty's　boot；　and　assisted　him　in　dressing　the　wound。　　Although　the
pain　was　still　quite　severe；　the　Emperor　was　not　willing　to　take　time　to
put　on　his　boot　again；　and　in　order　to　turn　the　enemy；　and　reassure　the
army　as　to　his　condition；　he　mounted　his　horse；　and　galloped　along　the
line　accompanied　by　his　whole　staff。　　That　day；　as　may　be　believed；　no
one　delayed　to　take　breakfast；　but　all　dined　at　Ratisbonne。

His　Majesty　showed　an　invincible　repugnance　to　all　medicine；　and　when　he
used　any；　which　was　very　rarely；　it　was　chicken　broth；　chicory；　or　cream
of　tartar。

Corvisart　recommended　him　to　refuse　every　drink　which　had　a　bitter　or
disagreeable　taste；　which　he　did；　I　believe；　in　the　fear　that　an　attempt
might　be　made　to　poison　him。

At　whatever　hour　the　Emperor　had　retired；　I　entered　his　room　at　seven　or
eight　o'clock　in　the　morning；　and　I　have　already　said　that　his　first
questions　invariably　were　as　to　the　hour　and　the　kind　of　weather。
Sometimes　he　complained　to　me　of　looking　badly；　and　if　this　was　true；　I
agreed　with　him；　and　if　it　were　not；　I　told　him　the　truth。　　In　this　case
he　pulled　my　ears；　and　called　me；　laughing；　〃grosse　bete；〃　and　asked　for
a　mirror；　sometimes　saying　he　was　trying　to　fool　me　and　that　he　was　very
well。　　He　read　the　daily　papers；　asked　the　names　of　the　people　in　the
waiting…room；　named　those　he　wished　to　see；　and　conversed　with　each　one。
When　Corvisart　came；　he　entered　without　waiting　for　orders；　and　the
Emperor　took　pleasure　in　teasing　him　by　speaking　of　medicine；　which　he
said　was　only　a　conjectural　art；　that　the　doctors　were　charlatans；　and
cited　instances　in　proof　of　it；　especially　in　his　own　experience；　the
doctor　never　yielding　a　point　when　he　thought　he　was　right。　　During　these
conversations；　the　Emperor　shaved　himself；　for　I　had　prevailed　on　him　to
take　this　duty　on　himself；　often　forgetting　that　he　had　shaved　only　one
side　of　his　face；　and　when　I　called　his　attention　to　this；　he　laughed；
and　finished　his　work。　　Yvan；　doctor…in…ordinary；　as　well　as　Corvisart；
came　in　for　his　share　in　the　criticisms　and　attacks　on　his　profession；
and　these　discussions　were　extremely　amusing。　　The　Emperor　was　very　gay
and　talkative　at　such　times；　and　I　believe；　when　he　had　at　hand　no
examples　to　cite　in　support　of　his　theories；　did　not　scruple　to　invent
them；　consequently　these　gentlemen　did　not　always　rely　upon　his
statements。　　One　day　his　Majesty　pulled　the　ears　of　one　of　his　physicians
（Halle；　I　believe）。　　The　doctor　abruptly　drew　himself　away；　crying；
〃Sire；　you　hurt　me。〃　　Perhaps　this　speech　was　tinged　with　some
irritation；　and　perhaps；　also；　the　doctor　was　right。　　However　that　may
be；　his　ears　were　never　in　danger　again。

Sometimes　before　beginning　my　labors；　his　Majesty　questioned　me　as　to
what　I　had　done　the　evening　before；　asked　me　if　I　had　dined　in　the　city；
and　with　whom；　if　I　had　enjoyed　myself；　and　what　we　had　for　dinner。　　He
often　inquired　also　what　such　or　such　a　part　of　my　clothing　cost　me；　and
when　I　told　him　he　would　exclaim　at　the　price；　and　tell　me　that　when　he
was　a　sub…lieutenant　everything　was　much　cheaper；　and　that　he　had　often
during　that　time　taken　his　meals　at　Roze's　restaurant；　and　dined　very
well　for　forty　cents。　　Several　times　he　spoke　to　me　of　my　family；　and　of
my　sister；　who　was　a　nun　before　the　Revolution；　and　who　had　been
compelled　to　leave　her　convent；　and　one　day　asked　me　if　she　had　a
pension；　and　how　much　it　was。　　I　told　him；　and　added；　that　this　not　being
sufficient　for　her　wants；　I　myself　gave　an　allowance　to　her；　and　also　to
my　mother。　　His　Majesty　told　me　to　apply　to　the　Duke　of　Bassano；　and
report　the　matter　to　him；　as　he　wished　to　treat　my　family　handsomely。
I　did　not　avail　myself　of　this　kind　intention　of　his　Majesty；　for　at　that
time　I　had　sufficient　means　to　be　able　to　assist　my　relatives；　and　did
not　foresee　the　future；　which　I　thought　would　not　change　my　condition；
and　felt　a　delicacy　in　putting　my　people；　so　to　speak；　on　the　charge　of
the　state。　　I　confess　that　I　have　been　more　than　once　tempted　to　repent
this　excessive　delicacy；　which　I　have　seen　few　persons　above　or　below　my
condition　imitate。　　On　rising；　the　Emperor　habitually　took　a　cup　of　tea
or　orange　water；　and　if　he　desired　a　bath；　had　it　immediately　on　getting
out　of　bed；　and　while　in　it　had　his　dispatches　and　newspapers　read　to　him
by　his　secretary　（Bourrienne　till　1804）。　　If　he　did　not　take　a　bath；　he
seated　himself　by　the　fire；　and　had　them　read　to　him　there；　often　reading
them　himself。　　He　dictated　to　the　secretary　his　replies；　and　the
observations　which　the　reading　of　these　suggested　to　him；　as　he　went
through　each；　throwing　it　on　the　floor　without　any　order。　　The　secretary
afterwards　gathered　them　all　up；　and　arranged　them　to　be　carried　into　the
Emperor's　private　room。　　His　Majesty；　before　making　his　toilet；　in
summer；　put　on　pantaloons　of　white　pique　and　a　dressing…gown　of　the　same；
and　in　winter；　pantaloons　and　dressing…gown　of　swanskin；　while　on　his
head　was　a　turban　tied　in　front；　the　two　ends　hanging　down　on　his　neck
behind。　　When　the　Emperor　donned　this　headdress；　his　appearance　was　far
from　elegant。　　When　he　came　out　of　the　bath；　we　gave　him　another　turban；
for　the　one　he　wore　was　always　wet　in　the　bath；　where　he　turned　and
splashed　himself　incessantly。　　Having　taken　his　bath　and　read　his
dispatches；　he　began　his　toilet；　and　I　shaved　him　before　he　learned　to
shave　himself。　　When　the　Emperor　began　this　habit；　he　used　at　first；　like
every　one；　a　mirror　attached　to　the　window；　but　he　came　up　so　close　to
it；　and　lathered　himself　so　vigorously　with　soap；　that　the　mirror；
window…panes；　curtains；　his　dressing…gown；　and　the　Emperor　himself；　were
all　covered　with　it。　　To　remedy　this　inconvenience；　the　servants
assembled　in　council；　and　it　was　decided　that　Roustan　should　hold　the
looking…glass　for　his　Majesty。　　When　the　Emperor　had　shaved　one　side；　he
turned　the　other　side　to　view；　and　made　Roustan　pass　from　left　to　right；
or　from　right　to　left；　according　to　the　side　on　which　he　commenced。
After　shaving；　the　Emperor　washed　his　face　and　hands；　and　had　his　nails
carefully　cleaned；　then　I　took　off　his　flannel　vest　and　shirt；　and　rubbed
his　whole　bust　with　an　extremely　soft　silk　brush；　afterwards　rubbing　him
with　eau…de…cologne；　of　which　he　used　a　great　quantity；　for　every　day　he
was　rubbed　and　dressed　thus。　　It　was　in　the　East　he　had　acquired　this
hygienic　custom；　which　he　enjoyed　greatly；　and　which　is　really　excellent。
All　these　preparations　ended；　I　put　on　him　light　flannel　or　cashmere
slippers；　white　silk　stockings；　the　only　kind　he　ever　wore；　and　very　fine
linen　or　fustian　drawers；　sometimes　knee…breeches　of　white　cassimere；
with　soft　riding…boots；　sometimes　pantaloons　of　the　same　stuff　and　color；
with　little　English　half…boots　which　came　to　the　middle　of　the　leg；　and
were　finished　with　small　silver　spurs　which　were　never　more　than　six
lines　in　length。　　All　his；　boots　were　finished　with　these　spurs。　　I　then
put　on　him　his　flannel　vest　and　shirt；　a　neck…cloth　of　very　fine　muslin；
and　over　all　a　black　silk　stock；　finally　a　round　vest　of　white　pique；　and
either　a　chasseur's　or　grenadier's　coat；　usually　the　former。　　His　toilet
ended；　he　was　presented　with　his　handkerchief；　his　tobacco…box；　and　a
little　shell　bog　filled　with　aniseed　and　licorice；　ground　very　fine。　　It
will　be　seen　by　the　above　that　the　Emperor　had　himself　dressed　by　his
attendants　from　head　to　foot。　　He　put　his　hand　to　nothing；　but　let
himself　be　dressed　like　an　infant；　his　mind　filled　with　business　during
the　entire　performance。

I　had　forgotten　to　say　that　he　used　boxwood　toothpicks；　and　a　brush
dipped　in　some　opiate。　　The　Emperor　was　born；　so　to　speak；　to　be　waited
on　（homme　d　valets　de　chambre）。　　When　only　a　general；　he　had　as　many　as
three　valets；　and　had　himself　served　with　as　much　luxury　as　at　the　height
of　his　fortunes；　and　from　that　time　received　all　the　attentions　I　have
just　described；　and　which　it　was　almost　impossible　for　him　to　do　without；
and　in　this　particular　the　etiquette　was　never　changed。　　He　increased　the
number　of　his　servants；　and　decorated　them　with　new　titles；　but　he　could
not　have　more　s