napoleon bonaparte, v3-第13章

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to　give　him　only　those　which　were　perfectly　trained；　but　every　precaution
was　taken；　and　horses　destined　for　the　special　service　of　the　Emperor
passed　through　a　rude　novitiate　before　arriving　at　the　honor　of　carrying
him。　　They　were　habituated　to　endure；　without　making　the　least　movement；
torments　of　all　kinds；　blows　with　a　whip　over　the　head　and　ears；　the　drum
was　beaten；　pistols　were　fired；　fireworks　exploded　in　their　ears；　flags
were　shaken　before　their　eyes；　heavy　weights　were　thrown　against　their
legs；　sometimes　even　sheep　and　hogs。　　It　was　required　that　in　the　midst
of　the　most　rapid　gallop　（the　Emperor　liked　no　other　pace）；　he　should　be
able　to　stop　his　horse　suddenly；　and　in　short；　it　was　absolutely
necessary　to　have　only　the　most　perfectly　trained　animals。

M。　Jardin；　senior；　equerry　of　his　Majesty；　acquitted　himself　of　this
laborious　duty　with　much　skill　and　ability；　as　the　Emperor　attached　such
importance　to　it；　he　also　insisted　strongly　that　his　horses　should　be
very　handsome；　and　in　the　last　years　of　his　reign　would　ride　only　Arab
horses。

There　were　a　few　of　those　noble　animals　for　which　the　Emperor　had　a　great
affection；　among　others；　Styria；　which　he　rode　over　the　St。　Bernard　and
at　Marengo。　　After　this　last　campaign；　he　wished　his　favorite　to　end　his
days　in　the　luxury　of　repose；　for　Marengo　and　the　great　St。　Bernard　were
in　themselves　a　well…filled　career。　　The　Emperor　rode　also　for　many　years
an　Arab　horse　of　rare　intelligence；　in　which　he　took　much　pleasure。
During　the　time　he　was　awaiting　his　rider；　it　would　have　been　hard　to
discover　in　him　the　least　grace；　but　as　soon　as　he　heard　the　drums　beat
the　tattoo　which　announced　the　presence　of　his　Majesty；　he　reared　his
head　most　proudly；　tossed　his　mane；　and　pawed　the　ground；　and　until　the
very　moment　the　Emperor　alighted；　was　the　most　magnificent　animal
imaginable。

His　Majesty　made　a　great　point　of　good　equerries；　and　nothing　was
neglected　in　order　that　the　pages　should　receive　in　this　particular　the
most　careful　education。　　To　accustom　them　to　mount　firmly　and　with　grace；
they　practiced　exercises　in　vaulting；　for　which　it　seemed　to　me　they
would　have　no　use　except　at　the　Olympic　circus。　　And；　in　fact；　one　of　the
horsemen　of　Messieurs　Franconi　had　charge　of　this　part　of　the　pages'
education。

The　Emperor；　as　has　been　said　elsewhere；　took　no　pleasure　in　hunting；
except　just　so　far　as　was　necessary　to　conform　to　the　usage　which　makes
this　exercise　a　necessary　accompaniment　to　the　throne　and　the　crown；　and
yet　I　have　seen　him　sometimes　continue　it　sufficiently　long　to　justify
the　belief　that　he　did　not　find　it　altogether　distasteful。　　He　hunted　one
day　in　the　forest　of　Rambouillet　from　six　in　the　morning　to　eight　in　the
evening；　a　stag　being　the　object　of　this　prolonged　excursion；　and　I
remember　they　returned　without　having　taken　him。　　In　one　of　the　imperial
hunts　at　Rambouillet；　at　which　the　Empress　Josephine　was　present；　a　stag；
pursued　by　the　hunters；　threw　himself　under　the　Empress's　carriage；　which
refuge　did　not　fail　him；　for　her　Majesty；　touched　by　the　misery　of　the
poor　animal；　begged　his　life　of　the　Emperor。　　The　stag　was　spared；　and
Josephine　placed　round　its　neck　a　silver　collar　to　attest　its
deliverance；　and　protect　it　against　the　attacks　of　all　hunters。

One　of　the　ladies　of　the　Empress　one　day　showed　less　humanity　than　she；
however；　and　the　reply　which　she　made　to　the　Emperor　displeased　him
exceedingly；　for　he　loved　gentleness　and　pity　in　women。　　When　they　had
hunted　for　several　hours　in　the　Bois　de　Boulogne；　the　Emperor　drew　near
the　carriage　of　the　Empress　Josephine；　and　began　talking　with　a　lady　who
bore　one　of　the　most　noble　and　most　ancient　names　in　all　France；　and　who；
it　is　said；　had　been　placed　near　the　Empress　against　her　wishes。　　The
Prince　of　Neuchatel　（Berthier）　announced　that　the　stag　was　at　bay。
〃Madame；〃　said　the　Emperor　gallantly　to　Madame　de　C　；　〃I　place　his
fate　in　your　hands。〃〃Do　with　him；　Sire；〃　replied　she；　〃as　you　please。
It　difference　to　me。〃　　The　Emperor　gave　her　a　glance　of　disapproval；　and
said　to　the　master　of　the　hounds；　〃Since　the　stag　in　his　misery　does　not
interest　Madame　C；　he　does　not　deserve　to　live；　have　him　put　to
death；　〃whereupon　his　Majesty　turned　his　horse's　bridle；　and　rode　off。
The　Emperor　was　shocked　by　；such　an　answer；　and　repeated　it　that　evening；
on　his　return　from　the　hunt；　in　terms　by　no　means　flattering　to　Madame　de
C。

It　is　stated　in　the　Memorial　of　Saint…Helena　that　the　Emperor；　while
hunting；　was　thrown　and　wounded　by　a　wild　boar；　from　which　one　of　his
fingers　bore　a　bad　scar。　　I　never　saw　this；　and　never　knew　of　such　an
accident　having　happened　to　the　Emperor。　　The　Emperor　did　not　place　his
gun　firmly　to　his　shoulder；　and　as　he　always　had　it　heavily　loaded　and
rammed；　never　fired　without　making　his　arm　black　with　bruises；　but　I
rubbed　the　injured　place　with　eau　de　Cologne；　and　he　gave　it　no　further
thought。

The　ladies　followed　the　hunt　in　their　coaches；　a　table　being　usually
arranged　in　the　forest　for　breakfast；　to　which　all　persons　in　the　hunt
were　invited。

The　Emperor　on　one　occasion　hunted　with　falcons　on　the　plain　of
Rambouillet；　in　order　to　make　a　trial　of　the　falconry　that　the　King　of
Holland　（Louis）　had　sent　as　a　present　to　his　Majesty。　　The　household　made
a　fete　of　seeing　this　hunt；　of　which　we　had　been　hearing　so　much；　but　the
Emperor　appeared　to　take　less　pleasure　in　this　than　in　the　chase　or
shooting；　and　hawking　was　never　tried　again。

His　Majesty　was　exceedingly　fond　of　the　play；　preferring　greatly　French
tragedy　and　the　Italian　opera。　　Corneille　was　his　favorite　author；　and　he
had　always　on　his　table　some　volume　of　the　works　of　this　great　poet。　　I
have　often　heard　the　Emperor　declaim；　while　walking　up　and　down　in　his
room；　verses　of　Cinna；　or　this　speech　on　the　death　of　Caesar：

　　　　　Caesar；　you　will　reign；　see　the　august　day
　　　　　In　which　the　Roman　people；　always　unjust　to　thee；〃　etc。

At　the　theater　of　Saint…Cloud；　the　piece　for　the　evening　was　often　made
up　of　fragments　and　selections　from　different　authors；　one　act　being
chosen　from　one　opera；　one　from　another；　which　was　very　vexatious　to　the
spectators　whom　the　first　piece　had　begun　to　interest。　　Often；　also；
comedies　were　played；　on　which　occasions　there　was　great　rejoicing　in　the
household；　and　the　Emperor　himself　took　much　pleasure　in　them。　　How　many
times　have　I　seen　him　perfectly　overcome　with　laughter；　when　seeing
Baptiste　junior　in　'les　Heritiers'；　and　Michaut　also　amused　him　in　'la
Partie　de　Chasse　de　Henry　IV'。

I　cannot　remember　in　what　year；　but　it　was　during　one　of　the　sojourns　of
the　court　at　Fontainebleau；　that　the　tragedy　of　the　Venetians　was
presented　before　the　Emperor　by　Arnault；　senior。　　That　evening；　as　he　was
retiring；　his　Majesty　discussed　the　piece　with　Marshal　Duroc；　and　gave
his　opinion；　adducing　many　reasons；　in　support　of　it。　　These　praises；
like　the　criticisms；　were　all　explained　and　discussed；　the　grand　marshal
talking　little；　and　the　Emperor　incessantly。　　Although　a　poor　judge
myself　of　such　matters；　it　was　very　entertaining；　and　also　very
instructive；　to　hear　the　Emperor's　opinion　of　pieces；　ancient　and　modern；
which　had　been　played　before　him；　and　his　observations　and　remarks　could
not　have　failed；　I　am　sure；　to　be　of　great　profit　to　the　authors；　had
they　been　able　like　myself　to　hear　them。　　As　for　me；　if　I　gained　anything
from　it；　it　is　being　enabled　to　speak　of　it　here　a　little　（although　a
very　little）；　more　appropriately　than　a　blind　man　would　of　colors；
nevertheless；　for　fear　of　saying　the　wrong　thing；　I　return　to　matters
which　are　in　my　department。

It　has　been　said　that　his　Majesty　used　a　great　quantity　of　tobacco；　and
that　in　order　to　take　it　still　more　frequently　and　quickly；　he　put　it　in
a　pocket　of　his　vest；　lined　with　skin　for　that　purpose。　　This　is　an
error。　　The　Emperor　never　took　tobacco　except　in　his　snuff…boxes；　and
although　he　wasted　a　great　quantity　of　it；　he　really　used　very　little；　as
he　took　a　pinch；　held　it　to　his　nose　simply　to　smell　it；　and　let　it　fall
immediately。　　It　is　true　that　the　place　where　he　had　been　was　covered
with　it；　but　his　handkerchiefs；　irreproachable　witnesses　in　such　matters；
were　scarcely　stained；　and　although　they　were　white　and　of　very　fine
linen；　certainly　bore　no　marks　of　a　snuff…taker。　　Sometimes　he　simply
passed　his　open　snuff…box　under　his　nose　in　order　to　breathe　the　odor　of
the　tobacco　it　contained。　　These　boxes　were　of　black　shell；　with　hinges；
and　of　a　narrow；　oval　shape；　they　were　lined　with　gold；　and　ornamented
with　antique　cameos；　or　medallions；　in　gold　or　silver。　　At　one　time　he
used　round　tobacco…boxes；　but　as　it　took　two　hands　to　open　them；　and　in
this　operation　he　sometimes　dropped　either　the　box　or　the　top；　he　became
disgusted　with　them。　　His　tobacco　was　grated　very　coarse；　and　was　usually
composed　of　several　kinds　of　tobacco　mixed　together。　　Frequently　he
amused　himself　by　making　the　gazelles　that　he　had　at　Saint…Cloud　eat　it。
They　were　very　fond　of　it；　and　although　exceedingly　afraid　of　every　one
else；　came　close　to　his　Majesty　without　the　slightest　fear。

The　Emperor　took　a　fancy　on　one　occasion；　but　only　one；　to　try　a　pipe；　as
I　shall　now　relate。　　The　Persian　ambassador　（or　perhaps　it　was　the
Turkish　ambassador　who　came　to　Paris　under　the　Consulate）　had　made　his
Majesty　a　present　of　a　very　handsome　pipe　such　as　is　used　by　the
Orientals。　　One　day　he　was　seized　with　a　desire　to　try　it；　and　had
everything　necessary　for　this　purpose　prepared。　　The　fire　having　been
applied　to　the　bowl；　the　only　question　now　was　to　light　the　tobacco；　but
from　the　manner　in　which　his　Majesty　attempted　this　it　was　impossible　for
him　to　succeed；　as　he　alternately　opened　and　closed　his　lips　repeatedly
without　drawing　in　his　breath　at　all。　　〃Why；　what　is　the　matter？〃　cried
he；　〃it　does　not　work　at　all。〃　　I　called　his　attention　to　the　fact　that
he　was　not　inhaling　properly；　and　showed　him　how　it　ought　to　be　done；　but
the　Emperor　still　continued　his　performances；　which　were　like　some
peculiar　kind　of　yawning。　　Tired　out　by　his　fruitless　efforts　at　last；　he
told　me　to　light　it　for　him；　which　I　did；　and　instantly　handed　it　back　to
him。　　But　he　had　hardly　taken　a　whiff　when　the　smoke；　which　he　did　not
know　how　to　breathe　out　again；　filled　his　throat；　got　into　his　windpipe；
and　came　out　through　his　nose　and　eyes　in　great　puffs。　　As　soon　as　he
could　get　his　breath；　he　panted　forth；　〃Take　it　away！　　what　a　pest！　　Oh；
the　wretches！　it　has　made　me　sick。〃　　In　fact；　he　felt　ill　for　at　least　an
hour　after；　and　renounced　forever　the　〃pleasure　of　a　habit；　which；〃　said
he；　〃is　only　good　to　enable　do…nothings　to　kill　time。〃

The　only　requirements　the　Emperor　made　as　to　his　clothing　was　that　it
should　be　of　fine　quality　and　perfectly　comfortable；　and　his　coats　for
ordinary　use；　dress…coats；　and　even　the　famous　gray　overcoat；　were　made
of　the　finest　cloth　from　Louviers。　　Under　the　Consulate　he　wore；　as　was
then　the　fashion；　the　skirts　of　his　coat　extremely　long；　afterwards
fashion　changed；　and　they　were　worn　shorter；　but　the　Emperor　held　with
singular　tenacity　to　the　length　of　his；　and　I　had　much　trouble　in
inducing　h