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第15章

napoleon bonaparte, v3-第15章

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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 co

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