napoleon bonaparte, v10-第6章

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only　two　rooms；　and　his　suite　slept　on　the　landing　and　the　steps　of　the
staircase。　　This　little　town；　transformed　in　a　few　hours　into
headquarters；　presented　a　most　extraordinary　spectacle。　　On　a　square
surrounded　by　camps；　bivouacs；　and　military　parks；　in　the　midst　of　more
than　a　thousand　vehicles；　which　crossed　each　other　from　every　direction；
mingled　together；　became　entangled　in　every　way；　could　be　seen　slowly
defiling　regiments；　convoys；　artillery　trains；　baggage　wagons；　etc。
Following　them　came　herds　of　cattle；　preceded　or　divided　by　the　little
carts　of　the　canteen　women　and　sutlers；such　light；　frail　vehicles　that
the　least　jolt　endangered　them；　with　these　were　marauders　returning　with
their　booty；　peasants　pulling　vehicles　by　their　own　strength；　cursing　and
swearing　amid　the　laughter　of　our　soldiers；　and　couriers；　ordinance
officers；　and　aides…de…camp；　galloping　through　all　this　wonderfully
variegated　and　diversified　multitude　of　men　and　beasts。

And　when　to　this　is　added　the　neighing　of　horses；　bellowing　of　cattle；
rumbling　of　wheels　over　the　stones；　cries　of　the　soldiers；　sounds　from
trumpets；　drums；　fifes；　and　the　complaints　of　the　inhabitants；　with
hundreds　of　persons　all　together　asking　questions　at　the　same　time；
speaking　German　to　the　Italians；　and　French　to　the　Germans；　how　could　it
be　possible　that　his　Majesty　should　be　as　tranquil　and　as　much　at　his
ease　in　the　midst　of　this　fearful　uproar　as　in　his　cabinet　at　Saint…Cloud
or　the　Tuileries？　　This　was　nevertheless　the　case；　and　the　Emperor；
seated　before　a　miserable　table　covered　with　a　kind　of　cloth；　a　map
spread　before　him；　compass　and　pen　in　hand；　entirely　given　up　to
meditation；　showed　not　the　least　impatience；　and　it　would　have　been　said
that　no　exterior　noise　reached　his　ears。　　But　let　a　cry　of　pain　be　heard
in　any　direction；　the　Emperor　instantly　raised　his　head；　and　gave　orders
to　go　and　ascertain　what　had　happened。

The　power　of　thus　isolating　one's　self　completely　from　all　the
surrounding　world　is　very　difficult　to　acquire；　and　no　one　possessed　it
to　the　same　degree　as　his　Majesty。

On　the　1st　of　May　the　Emperor　was　at　Lutzen；　though　the　battle　did　not
occur　till　next　day。　　On　that　day；　at　six　o'clock　in　the　evening；　the
brave　Marshal　Bessieres；　Duke　of　Istria；　was　killed　by　a　cannon…ball；
just　at　the　moment　when；　mounted　on　a　height；　wrapped　in　a　long　cloak
which　he　had　put　on　in　order　not　to　be　remarked；　he　had　just　given　orders
for　the　burial　of　a　sergeant　of　his　escort；　whom　a　ball　had　just　slain　a
few　steps　in　front　of　him。

From　the　first　campaigns　in　Italy　the　Duke　of　Istria　had　hardly　left　the
Emperor　at　all；　had　followed　him　in　all　his　campaigns；　had　taken　part　in
all　his　battles；　and　was　always　distinguished　for　his　well…proved
bravery；　and　a　frankness　and　candor　very　rare　among　the　high　personages
by　whom　his　Majesty　was　surrounded。　　He　had　passed　through　almost　all
grades　up　to　the　command　of　the　Imperial　Guard；　and　his　great　experience；
excellent　character；　good　heart；　and　unalterable　attachment　to　the
Emperor；　had　rendered　him　very　dear　to　his　Majesty。

The　Emperor　was　much　moved　on　learning　of　the　death　of　the　marshal；　and
remained　some　time　silent　with　bent　head；　and　eyes　fastened　on　the
ground。　　At　last　he　said；　〃He　has　died　like　Turenne；　his　fate　is　to　be
envied。〃　　He　then　passed　his　hand　over　his　eyes　and　withdrew。

The　body　of　the　marshal　was　embalmed　and　carried　to　Paris；　and　the
Emperor　wrote　the　following　letter　to　the　Duchess　of　Istria：

　　　　　〃MY　COUSIN；

　　　　　Your　husband　has　died　on　the　field　of　honor。　　The　loss　sustained　by
　　　　　you　and　your　children　is　doubtless　great；　but　mine　is　greater　still。
　　　　　The　Duke　of　Istria　has　died　a　most　glorious　death；　and　without
　　　　　suffering。　　He　leaves　a　stainless　reputation；　the　richest　heritage
　　　　　he　could　have　left　his　children。　　My　protection　is　assured；　and　they
　　　　　will　also　inherit　the　affection　I　bore　their　father。　　Find　in　all
　　　　　these　considerations　some　source　of　consolation　in　your　distress；
　　　　　and　never　doubt　my　sentiments　towards　you。

　　　　　This　letter　having　no　other　object；　I　pray　that　God；　my　cousin；　may
　　　　　have　you　in　his　holy　keeping。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　NAPOLEON。〃


The　King　of　Saxony　reared　a　monument　to　the　Duke　of　Istria　on　the　exact
spot　where　he　fell。　　The　victory　so　long　disputed　in　this　battle　of
Lutzen　was　on　that　account　only　the　more　glorious　for　the　Emperor；　and
was　gained　principally　by　the　young　conscripts；　who　fought　like　lions。
Marshal　Ney　expected　this　of　them；　for　before　the　battle　he　said　to　his
Majesty；　〃Sire；　give　me　a　good　many　of　those　young　men；　I　will　lead　them
wherever　I　wish。　　The　old　bearded　fellows　know　as　much　as　we；　they
reflect；　they　are　too　cold　blooded；　but　these　intrepid　children　know　no
difficulties；　they　look　straight　before　them；　and　neither　to　the　right
nor　left。〃

In　fact；　in　the　midst　of　the　battle；　the　Prussians；　commanded　by　the　king
in　person；　attacked　the　corps　of　Marshal　Ney　with　such　fury　that　it　fell
back；　but　the　conscripts　did　not　take　flight。　　They　withstood　the　fire；
rallied　by　platoons；　and　flanked　the　enemy；　crying　with　all　their　might；
〃Vive　l'Empereur。〃　　The　Emperor　appeared；　and　recovering　from　the
terrible　shock　they　had　sustained；　and　electrified　by　the　presence　of
their　hero；　they　attacked　in　their　turn　with　incredible　violence。　　His
Majesty　was　astonished。　　〃In　the　twenty　years；〃　said　he；　〃I　have
commanded　French　armies　I　have　never　witnessed　such　remarkable　bravery
and　devotion。〃

It　was　indeed　a　touching　sight　to　see　those　youthful　soldiers；　although
grievously　wounded；　some　without　an　arm；　some　without　a　leg；　with　but　a
few　moments　of　life　remaining；　making　a　last　effort；　as　the　Emperor
approached；　to　rise　from　the　ground；　and　shout　with　their　latest　breath；
〃Vive　l'Empereur。〃　　Tears　fill　my　eyes　as　I　think　of　those　youths；　so
brilliant；　so　strong；　and　so　courageous。

The　enemy　displayed　the　same　bravery　and　enthusiasm。　　The　light　infantry
of　the　Prussian　guard　were　almost　all　young　men　who　saw　fire　for　the
first　time；　they　exposed　themselves　to　every　hazard；　and　fell　by　hundreds
before　they　would　recoil　a　step。

In　no　other　battle；　I　think；　was　the　Emperor　so　visibly　protected　by　his
destiny。　　Balls　whistled　around　his　ears；　carrying　away　as　they　passed
pieces　of　the　trappings　of　his　horse；　shells　and　grenades　rolled　at　his
feet；　but　nothing　touched　him。　　The　soldiers　observed　this；　and　their
enthusiasm　rose　to　the　highest　pitch。

At　the　beginning　of　the　battle；　the　Emperor　saw　a　battalion　advancing
whose　chief　had　been　suspended　from　his　office　two　or　three　days　before
for　some　slight　breach　of　discipline。　　The　disgraced　officer　marched　in
the　second　rank　with　his　soldiers；　by　whom　he　was　adored。　　The　Emperor
saw　him；　and　halting　the　battalion；　took　the　officer　by　the　hand；　and
placed　him　again　at　the　head　of　his　troop。　　The　effect　produced　by　this
scene　was　indescribable。

On　the　8th　of　May；　at　seven　o'clock　in　the　evening；　the　Emperor　entered
Dresden；　and　took　possession　of　the　palace；　which　the　Emperor　of　Russia
and　King　of　Prussia　had　quitted　that　very　evening。　　A　short　distance　from
the　barriers　the　Emperor　was　saluted　by　a　deputation　from　the
municipality　of　that　town。

　　　　　〃You　deserve；〃　said　he　to　these　deputies；　〃that　I　should　treat　you
　　　　　as　a　conquered　country。　　I　know　all　that　you　have　done　while　the
　　　　　allies　occupied　your　town；　I　have　a　statement　of　the　number　of
　　　　　volunteers　whom　you　have　clothed；　equipped；　and　armed　against　me；
　　　　　with　a　generosity　which　has　astonished　even　the　enemy。　　I　know　the
　　　　　insults　you　have　heaped　on　France；　and　how　many　shameless　libels　you
　　　　　have　to　suppress　or　to　burn　today。　　I　am　fully　aware　with　what
　　　　　transports　of　joy　you　received　the　Emperor　of　Russia　and　the　King　of
　　　　　Prussia　within　your　walls。　　Your　houses　are　still　decorated　with　the
　　　　　garlands；　and　we　still　see　lying　on　the　earth　the　flowers　which　the
　　　　　young　girls　scattered　in　their　path。　　Nevertheless；　I　am　willing　to
　　　　　pardon　everything。　　Thank　your　king　for　this；　it　is　he　who　saves
　　　　　you；　and　I　pardon　you　only　from　love　of　him。　　Send　a　deputation　to
　　　　　entreat　him　to　return　to　you。　　My　aide…de…camp；　General　Durosnel；
　　　　　will　be　your　governor。　　Your　good　king　himself　could　not　make　a
　　　　　better　selection。〃

As　soon　as　he　entered　the　city　the　Emperor　was　informed　that　a　part　of
the　Russian　rear…guard　sought　to　hold　its　ground　in　the　new　town；
separated　from　the　old　by　the　river　Elbe；　and　had　fallen　into　the　power
of　our　army。

His　Majesty　immediately　ordered　that　everything　should　be　done　in　order
to　drive　out　this　remnant　of　the　enemy；　and　during　an　entire　day　there
was　a　continued　cannonading　and　shooting　in　the　town　from　one　bank　to　the
other。　　Bullets　and　shell　fell　like　hail　on　the　spot　occupied　by　the
Emperor。　　A　shell　struck　the　walls　of　a　powder…magazine　not　far　from　him；
and　scattered　the　pieces　around　his　head；　but　fortunately　the　powder　did
not　ignite。　　A　few　moments　after　another　shell　fell　between　his　Majesty
and　several　Italians；　they　bent　to　avoid　the　explosion。　　The　Emperor　saw
this　movement；　and　laughingly　said　to　them；　〃Ah；　coglioni！　non　fa　male。〃
＇Ah；　scamps！　don't　behave　badly。〃＇

On　the　11th　of　May；　in　the　morning；　the　Russians　were　put　to　flight　and
pursued；　the　French　army　entering　the　city　from　all　sides。　　The　Emperor
remained　on　the　bridge　the　whole　day；　watching　his　troops　as　they　filed
in。　　The　next　day　at　ten　o'clock　the　Imperial　Guard　under　arms　were
placed　in　line　of　battle　on　the　road　from　Pirna　to　Gross　Garten。　　The
Emperor　reviewed　it；　and　ordered　General　Flahaut　to　advance。

The　King　of　Saxony　arrived　about　noon。　　On　meeting　again；　the　two
sovereigns　alighted　from　their　horses　and　embraced　each　other；　and　then
entered　Dresden　amid　general　acclamations。

General　Flahaut；　who　had　gone　to　meet　the　King　of　Saxony　with　a　part　of
the　imperial　Guard；　received　from　this　good　king　the　most　flattering
testimonials　of　appreciation　and　gratitude。　　It　is　impossible　to　show
more　cordiality　and　friendliness　than　the　King　of　Saxony　displayed。　　The
Emperor　said　of　him　and　his　family　that　they　were　a　patriarchal　family；
and　that　all　who　comprised　it　joined　to　striking　virtues　an　expansive
kindness　of　manner　which　made　them　adored　by　their　subjects。　　His　Majesty
paid　this　royal　personage　the　most　affectionate　attentions；　and　as　long
as　the　war　lasted　sent　couriers　each　day　to　keep　the　king　informed　of　the
least　circumstance：　　He　came　himself　as　often　as　possible；　and；　in　fact；
constantly　treated　him　with　that　cordiality　he　so　well　knew　how　to
display　and　to　render　irresistible　when　he　chose。

A　few　days　after　his　arrival　at　Dresden　his　Majesty　held　a　long
conversation　with　the　King　of　Saxony；　in　which　the　Emperor　Alexander　was
the　principal　subject　of　conversation。

The　characteristics　and　faults　of　this　prince　were　fully　analyzed；　and
the　conclusion　drawn　from　this　conversation　was　that　the　Emperor
Alexander　had　been　sincere　in　the　interview　at　Erfurt；　and　that　it　must
have　been　very　complicated　intrigues　which　had　thus　led　to　the　rupture　of