napoleon bonaparte, v10-第2章

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necessity　is　ever　ready　with　inventions；　we　supplied　deficiency　in　our
furnishings　in　the　following　manner：　we　had　great　bags　of　coarse　cloth
made；　into　which　we　entered；　and　thus　protected；　threw　ourselves　on　a
little　straw；　when　we　were　fortunate　enough　to　obtain　it；　and　for　several
months　I　took　my　rest　during　the　night　in　this　manner；　and　even　this　I
frequently　could　not　enjoy　for　as　many　as　five　or　six　nights　at　a　time；
so　exacting　were　the　requirements　of　my　position。

If　it　is　remembered　that　all　these　sufferings　continued　in　their　petty
details　each　day；　and　that　when　night　came　we　had　not　even　a　bed　on　which
to　stretch　our　weary　limbs；　some　idea　may　be　formed　of　the　privations　we
endured　on　this　campaign。　　The　Emperor　never　uttered　a　word　of　complaint
when　beset　by　such　discomforts；　and　his　example　inspired　us　with　courage；
and　at　last　we　became　so　accustomed　to　this　fatiguing　and　wandering
existence；　that；　in　spite　of　the　cold　and　privations　of　every　sort　to
which　we　were　subjected；　we　often　jested　about　the　dainty　arrangements　of
our　apartments。　　The　Emperor　on　the　campaign　was　affected　only　by　the
sufferings　of　others；　though　his　health　was　sometimes　so　much　impaired　as
to　cause　anxiety；　especially　when　he　denied　himself　all　rest　not
absolutely　required；　and　yet　I　heard　him　constantly　inquiring　if　there
were　lodgings　for　all；　and　he　would　not　be　satisfied　until　fully　informed
of　every　particular。

Although　the　Emperor　nearly　always　had　a　bed；　the　poor　quarters　in　which
it　was　set　up　were　often　so　filthy；　that　in　spite　of　all　the　care　taken
to　clean　it；　I　more　than　once　found　on　his　clothing　a　kind　of　vermin　very
disagreeable；　and　very　common　in　Russia。　　We　suffered　more　than　the
Emperor　from　this　inconvenience；　being　deprived　as　we　were　of　proper
linen　and　other　changes　of　clothing；　since　the　greater　part　of　our
effects　had　been　burned　with　the　wagons　containing　them。　　This　extreme
measure　had　been　taken；　as　I　have　said；　for　good　reasons；　all　the　horses
having　died　from　cold　or　famine。

We　were　little　better　lodged　in　the　palace　of　the　Czars　than　on　the
bivouac。　　For　several　days　we　had　only　mattresses；　but　as　a　large　number
of　wounded　officers　had　none；　the　Emperor　ordered　ours　to　be　given　them。
We　made　the　sacrifice　willingly；　and　the　thought　that　we　were　assisting
others　more　unfortunate　than　ourselves　would　have　made　the　hardest　bed
endurable。　　Besides；　in　this　war　we　had　more　than　one　opportunity　to
learn　how　to　put　aside　all　feelings　of　egotism　and　narrow　personality；
and　had　we　been　guilty　of　such　forgetfulness；　the　Emperor　was　ever　ready
to　recall　us　to　this　plain　and　simple　duty。




CHAPTER　IX。

The　only　too　famous　twenty…ninth　bulletin　of　the　grand　army　was　not
published　in　Paris；　where　the　consternation　it　spread　through　all　classes
is　well　known；　until　the　16th　of　December；　and　the　Emperor；　following
close　upon　the　heels　of　this　solemn　manifesto　of　our　disasters；　arrived
in　his　capital　forty…eight　hours　after；　as　if　endeavoring　to　annul　by　his
presence　the　evil　effects　which　this　communication　might　produce。　　On　the
28th；　at　half　past　eleven　in　the　evening；　his　Majesty　alighted　at　the
palace　of　the　Tuileries。　　This　was　the　first　time　since　his　accession　to
the　consulate　that　Paris　had　witnessed　his　return　from　a　campaign　without
announcing　a　new　peace　conquered　by　the　glory　of　our　arms。　　Under　these
circumstances；　the　numerous　persons　who　from　attachment　to　the　Empress
Josephine　had　always　seen　or　imagined　they　saw　in　her　a　kind　of
protecting　talisman　of　the　success　of　the　Emperor；　did　not　fail　to　remark
that　the　campaign　of　Russia　was　the　first　which　had　been　undertaken　since
the　Emperor's　marriage　to　Marie　Louise。　　Without　any　superstition；　it
could　not　be　denied　that；　although　the　Emperor　was　always　great　even　when
fortune　was　contrary　to　him；　there　was　a　very　marked　difference　between
the　reign　of　the　two　Empresses。　　The　one　witnessed　only　victories
followed　by　peace。　　And　the　other；　only　wars；　not　devoid　of　glory；　but
devoid　of　results；　until　the　grand　and　fatal　conclusion　in　the　abdication
at　Fontainebleau。

But　it　is　anticipating　too　much　to　describe　here　events　which　few　men
dared　to　predict　directly　after　the　disasters　of　Moscow。　　All　the　world
knows　that　the　cold　and　a　freezing　temperature　contributed　more　to　our
reverses　than　the　enemy；　whom　we　had　pursued　even　into　the　heart　of　his
burning　capital。　　France　still　offered　immense　resources；　and　the　Emperor
was　now　there　in　person　to　direct　their　employment　and　increase　their
value。　　Besides；　no　defection　was　as　yet　apparent；　and；　with　the
exception　of　Spain；　Sweden；　and　Russia；　the　Emperor　considered　all　the
European　powers　as　allies。　　It　is　true　the　moment　was　approaching　when
General　Yorck　would　give　the　signal；for　as　well　as　I　can　recall；　the
first　news　came　to　the　Emperor　on　the　10th　of　the　following　January；and
it　was　easy　to　see　that　his　Majesty　was　profoundly　affected　by　it；　as　he
saw　that　Prussia　would　have　many　imitators　in　the　other　corps　of　the
allied　armies。

At　Smorghoni；　where　the　Emperor　had　left　me　setting　out；　as　I　have　before
related；　with　the　Duke　of　Vicenza　in　the　coach　which　had　been　destined
for　me；　scarcely　anything　was　thought　of　but　how　to　extricate　ourselves
from　the　frightful　situation　in　which　we　found　ourselves　placed。　　I　well
remember　that　after　a　few　regrets　that　the　Emperor　was　not　in　the　midst
of　his　lieutenants；　the　idea　of　being　assured　that　he　had　escaped　from
all　danger　became　the　dominant　sentiment；　so　much　confidence　did　all
place　in　his　genius。　　Moreover；　in　departing；　he　had　given　the　command　to
the　King　of　Naples；　whose　valor　the　whole　army　admired；　although　it　is
said　that　a　few　marshals　were　secretly　jealous　of　his　royal　crown。　　I
have　learned　since；　that　the　Emperor　reached　Warsaw　on　the　10th；　having
avoided　passing　through　Wilna　by　making　a　circuit　through　the　suburbs；
and　at　last；　after　passing　through　Silesia；　he　had　arrived　at　Dresden；
where　the　good　and　faithful　King　of　Saxony；　although　very　ill；　had
himself　borne　to　the　Emperor。　　From　this　place　his　Majesty　had　followed
the　road　by　Nassau　and　Mayence。

I　followed　also　the　same　route；　but　not　with　the　same　rapidity；　although
I　lost　no　time。　　Everywhere；　and　above　all　in　Poland　at　the　places　where
I　stopped；　I　was　astonished　to　find　the　feeling　of　security　I　saw
manifested。　　From　all　directions　I　heard　the　report　that　the　Emperor　was
to　return　at　the　head　of　an　army　of　three　hundred　thousand　men。　　The
Emperor　had　been　known　to　do　such　surprising　things；　that　nothing　seemed
impossible；　and　I　learned　that　he　himself　had　spread　these　reports　on　his
passage；　in　order　to　restore　the　courage　of　the　population。　　In　several
places　I　could　procure　no　horses；　and　consequently；　in　spite　of　all　my
zeal；　I　did　not　reach　Paris　until　six　or　eight　days　after　the　Emperor。

I　had　hardly　alighted　from　my　carriage；　when　the　Emperor；　who　had　been
informed　of　my　arrival；　had　me　summoned。　　I　observed　to　the　messenger
that　I　was　not　in　a　condition　which　would　allow　me　to　present　myself
before　his　Majesty。　　〃That　makes　no　difference；〃　replied　he；　〃the　Emperor
wishes　you　to　come　immediately；　just　as　you　are。〃　　I　obeyed　instantly；
and　went；　or　rather　ran；　to　the　Emperor's　cabinet；　where　I　found　him　with
the　Empress；　Queen　Hortense；　and　another　person　whose　name　I　do　not
perfectly　recall。　　The　Emperor　deigned　to　give　me　a　most　cordial　welcome；
and　as　the　Empress　seemed　to　pay　no　attention　to　me；　said　to　her　in　a
manner　whose　kindness　I　shall　never　forget；　〃Louise；　do　you　not　recognize
Constant？〃

〃I　perceived　him。〃　＇Elsewhere　Constant　has　stated　her　reply　was；　〃I　had
not　perceived　him。〃＇　This　was　the　only　reply　of　her　Majesty　the
Empress；　but　such　was　not　the　case　with　Queen　Hortense；　who　welcomed　me
as　kindly　as　her　adorable　mother　had　always　done。

The　Emperor　was　very　gay；　and　seemed　to　have　forgotten　all　his　fatigue。
I　was　about　to　retire　respectfully；　but　his　Majesty　said　to　me；　〃No；
Constant；　remain　a　minute　longer；　and　tell　me　what　you　saw　on　your　road。〃
Even　if　I　had　any　intention　to　conceal　from　the　Emperor　a　part　of　the
truth；　taken　thus　unawares　I　should　have　lacked　the　time　to　prepare　an
agreeable　falsehood；　so　I　said　to　him　that　everywhere；　even　in　Silesia；
my　eyes　had　been　struck　by　the　same　frightful　spectacle；　for　everywhere　I
had　seen　the　dead　and　the　dying；　and　poor　unfortunates　struggling
hopelessly　against　cold　and　hunger。　　〃That　is　true；　that　is　true；〃　he
said；　〃go　and　rest；　my　poor　boy；　you　must　be　in　need　of　it。　　To…morrow
you　will　resume　your　service。〃

The　next　day；　in　fact；　I　resumed　my　duties　near　the　Emperor；　and　I　found
him　exactly　the　same　as　he　had　been　before　entering　on　the　campaign；　the
same　placidity　was　evident　on　his　countenance。　　It　would　have　been　said
that　the　past　was　no　longer　anything　to　him；　and　living　ever　in　the
future；　he　already　saw　victory　perched　again　on　our　banner；　and　his
enemies　humiliated　and　vanquished。　　It　is　true　that　the　numerous
addresses　he　received；　and　discourses　which　were　pronounced　in　his
presence　by　the　presidents　of　the　senate　and　the　council　of　state；　were
no　less　flattering　than　formerly；　but　it　was　very　evident　in　his　replies
that　if　he　pretended　to　forget　this　disastrous　experience　in　Russia；　he
was　more　deeply　concerned　about　the　affair　of　General　Malet　than　anything
else。

　　　　　＇In　the　reply　of　the　Emperor　to　the　council　of　state　occurred　the
　　　　　following　remarkable　passage；　which　it　may　not　be　amiss　to　repeat　at
　　　　　this　period　as　very　singular：

　　　　　〃It　is　to　idealism　and　that　gloomy　species　of　metaphysics　which；
　　　　　seeking　subtilely　for　first　causes；　wishes　to　place　on　such
　　　　　foundations　the　legislation　of　a　people；　instead　of　adapting　the
　　　　　laws　to　their　knowledge　of　the　human　heart；　and　to　the　lessons　of
　　　　　history；　that　it　is　necessary　to　attribute　all　the　misfortunes　our
　　　　　beautiful　France　has　experienced。　　These　errors　have　necessarily　led
　　　　　to　the　rule　of　the　men　of　blood。　　In　fact；　who　has　proclaimed　the
　　　　　principle　of　insurrection　as　a　duty？　　Who　has　paid　adulation　to　the
　　　　　nation　while　claiming　for　it　a　sovereignty　which　it　was　incapable　of
　　　　　exercising？　　Who　has　destroyed　the　sanctity　and　respect　for　the
　　　　　laws；　in　making　them　depend；　not　on　the　sacred　principles　of
　　　　　justice；　or　the　nature　of　things　and　on　civil　justice；　but　simply　on
　　　　　the　will　of　an　assembly　of　men　strangers　to　the　knowledge　of　civil；
　　　　　criminal；　administrative；　political；　and　military　law？　　When　one　is
　　　　　called　on　to　regenerate　a　state；　there　are　directly　opposite
　　　　　principles　by　which　one　must　necessarily　be　guided。〃NOTE　BY　THE
　　　　　EDITOR　of　FRENCH　EDITION。

　　　　　Claude　Francois　de　Malet；　born　at　Dole；　1754。　　In　1806　was　a　general
　　　　　officer；　and　was　dismissed　the　service。　　Plotting　against　the
　　　　　Emperor；　he　was　imprisoned　from　1808　to　1812。　　On　October　24　he
　　　　　issued　a　proclamation　that　the　Emperor　had　died　in　Russia；　and　that
　　　　　he　（Malet）　had　been　appointed　Governor　of　Paris　by　the　senate。　　He
　　　　　made　Savary　prisoner；　and　shot　General　Hullin。　　He　was　made　prisoner
　　　　　in　turn　by　General　Labor