napoleon bonaparte, v3-第21章

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the　establishments　of　public　utility；　and　if　the　severe　weather　prevented
his　going　out；　the　persons　who　requested　this　favor　were　presented　to
Pius　VII。　in　the　grand　gallery　of　the　Museum　Napoleon。　　I　was　one　day
asked　by　some　ladies　of　my　acquaintance　to　accompany　them　to　this
audience　of　the　Holy　Father；　and　took　much　pleasure　in　doing　so。

The　long　gallery　of　the　museum　was　filled　with　ladies　and　gentlemen；
arranged　in　double　lines；　the　greater　part　of　whom　were　mothers　of
families；　with　their　children　at　their　knees　or　in　their　arms；　ready　to
be　presented　for　the　Holy　Father's　blessing；　and　Pius　VII。　gazed　on　these
children　with　a　sweetness　and　mildness　truly　angelic。　　Preceded　by　the
governor　of　the　museum；　and　followed　by　the　cardinals　and　lords　of　his
household；　he　advanced　slowly　between　these　two　ranks　of　the　faithful；
who　fell　on　their　knees　as　he　passed；　often　stopping　to　place　his　hand　on
the　head　of　a　child；　to　address　a　few　words　to　the　mother；　or　to　give　his
ring　to　be　kissed。　　His　dress　was　a　plain　white　cassock　without　ornament。
Just　as　the　Pope　reached　us；　the　director　of　the　museum　presented　a　lady
who；　like　the　others；　was　awaiting　the　blessing　of　his　Holiness　on　her
knees。　　I　heard　the　director　call　this　lady　Madame；　the　Countess　de
Genlis；　upon　which　the　Holy　Father　held　out　to　her　his　ring；　raised　her
in　the　most　affable　manner；　and　said　a　few　flattering　words　complimenting
her　on　her　works；　and　the　happy　influence　which　they　had　exercised　in　re…
establishing　the　Catholic　religion　in　France。

Sellers　of　chaplets　and　rosaries　must　have　made　their　fortunes　during
this　winter；　for　in　some　shops　more　than　one　hundred　dozen　were　sold　per
day。　　During　the　month　of　January；　by　this　branch　of　industry　alone；　one
merchant　of　the　Rue　Saint…Denis　made　forty　thousand　francs。　　All　those
who　presented　themselves　at　the　audience　of　the　Holy　Father；　or　who
pressed　around　him　as　he　went　out；　made　him　bless　chaplets　for
themselves；　for　all　their　relations；　and　for　their　friends　in　Paris　or　in
the　provinces。　　The　cardinals　also　distributed　an　incredible　quantity　in
their　visits　to　the　various　hospitals；　to　the　Hotel　des　Invalides；　etc。；
and　even　at　private　houses。

It　was　arranged　that　the　coronation　of　their　Majesties　should　take　place
on　Dec。　2。　　On　the　morning　of　this　great　day　all　at　the　chateau　were
astir　very　early；　especially　the　persons　attached　to　the　service　of　the
wardrobe。　　The　Emperor　himself　arose　at　eight　o'clock。　　It　was　no　small
affair　to　array　his　Majesty　in　the　rich　costume　which　had　been　prepared
for　the　occasion；　and　the　whole　time　I　was　dressing　him　he　uttered
unlimited　maledictions　and　apostrophes　against　embroiderers；　tailors；　and
furnishers　generally。　　As　I　passed　him　each　article　of　his　dress；　〃Now；
that　is　something　handsome；　Monsieur　le　drole；〃　said　he　（and　my　ears　had
their　part　in　the　play）；　〃but　we　shall　see　the　bills　for　it。〃　　This　was
the　costume：　silk　stockings　embroidered　in　gold；　with　the　imperial
coronet　on　the　clocks；　white　velvet　boots　laced　and　embroidered　with
gold；　white　velvet　breeches　embroidered　in　gold　on　the　seams；　diamond
buckles　and　buttons　on　his　garters；　his　vest；　also　of　white　velvet；
embroidered　in　gold　with　diamond　buttons；　a　crimson　velvet　coat；　with
facings　of　white　velvet；　and　embroidered　on　all　the　seams；　the　whole
sparkling　with　gold　and　gems。　　A　short　cloak；　also　of　crimson；　and　lined
with　white　satin；　hung　from　his　left　shoulder；　and　was　caught　on　the
right　over　his　breast　with　a　double　clasp　of　diamonds。　　On　such　occasions
it　was　customary　for　the　grand　chamberlain　to　pass　the　shirt；　but　it
seems　that　his　Majesty　did　not　remember　this　law　of　etiquette；　and　it　was
I　alone　who　performed　that　office；　as　I　was　accustomed。　　The　shirt　was
one　of　those　ordinarily　worn　by　his　Majesty；　but　of　very　beautiful
cambric；　for　the　Emperor　would　wear　only　very　fine　linen；　but　ruffles　of
very　handsome　lace　had　been　added；　and　his　cravat　was　of　the　most
exquisite　muslin；　and　his　collar　of　superb　lace。　　The　black　velvet　cap
was　surmounted　by　two　white　aigrettes；　and　surrounded　with　a　band　of
diamonds；　caught　together　by　the　Regent。　　The　Emperor　set　out；　thus
dressed；　from　the　Tuileries；　and　it　was　not　till　he　had　reached　Notre…
Dame；　that　he　placed　over　his　shoulders　the　grand　coronation　mantle。
This　was　of　crimson　velvet；　studded　with　golden　bees；　lined　with　white
satin；　and　fastened　with　a　gold　cord　and　tassel。　　The　weight　of　it　was　at
least　eighty　pounds；　and；　although　it　was　held　up　by　four　grand
dignitaries；　bore　him　down　by　its　weight。　　Therefore；　on　returning　to　the
chateau；　he　freed　himself　as　soon　as　possible　from　all　this　rich　and
uncomfortable　apparel；　and　while　resuming　his　grenadier　uniform；　he
repeated　over　and　over；　〃At　last　I　can　get　my　breath。〃　　He　was　certainly
much　more　at　his　ease　on　the　day　of　battle。

The　jewels　which　were　used　at　the　coronation　of　her　Majesty　the　Empress；
and　which　consisted　of　a　crown；　a　diadem；　and　a　girdle；　came　from　the
establishment　of　M。　Margueritte。　　The　crown　had　eight　branches；　which
supported　a　golden　globe　surmounted　by　a　cross；　each　branch　set　with
diamonds；　four　being　in　the　shape　of　palm　and　four　of　myrtle　leaves。
Around　the　crown　ran　a　band　set　with　eight　enormous　emeralds；　while　the
bandeau　which　rested　on　the　brow　shone　with　amethysts。

The　diadem　was　composed　of　four　rows　of　magnificent　pearls　entwined　with
leaves　made　of　diamonds；　each　of　which　matched　perfectly；　and　was　mounted
with　a　skill　as　admirable　as　the　beauty　of　the　material。　　On　her　brow
were　several　large　brilliants；　each　one　alone　weighing　one　hundred　and
forty…nine　grains。　　The　girdle；　finally；　was　a　golden　ribbon　ornamented
With　thirty…nine　rose…colored　stones。　　The　scepter　of　his　Majesty　the
Emperor　had　been　made　by　M。　Odiot；　it　was　of　silver；　entwined　with　a
golden　serpent；　and　surmounted　by　a　globe　on　which　Charlemagne　was
seated。　　The　hand　of　Justice　and　the　crown；　as　well　as　the　sword；　were　of
most　exquisite　workmanship；　but　it　would　take　too　long　to　describe　them；
they　were　from　the　establishment　of　M。　Biennais。

At　nine　o'clock　in　the　morning　the　Pope　left　the　Tuileries　for　Notre
Dame；　in　a　carriage　drawn　by　eight　handsome　gray　horses。　　From　the
imperial　of　the　coach　rose　a　tiara　surrounded　by　the　insignia　of　the
papacy　in　gilt　bronze；　while　the　first　chamberlain　of　his　Holiness；
mounted　on　a　mule；　preceded　the　carriage；　bearing　a　silver　gilt　cross。

There　was　an　interval　of　about　one　hour　between　the　arrival　of　the　Pope
at　Notre　Dame　and　that　of　their　Majesties；　who　left　the　Tuileries
precisely　at　eleven　o'clock；　which　fact　was　announced　by　numerous　salutes
of　artillery。　　Their　Majesties'　carriage；　glittering　with　gold　and
adorned　with　magnificent　paintings；　was　drawn　by　eight　bay　horses
superbly　caparisoned。

Above　the　imperial　of　this　coach　was　a　crown　supported　by　four　eagles
with　extended　wings。　　The　panels　of　this　carriage；　which　was　the　object
of　universal　admiration；　were　of　glass　instead　of　wood；　and　it　was　so
built　that　the　back　was　exactly　like　the　front；　which　similarity　caused
their　Majesties；　on　entering　it；　to　make　the　absurd　mistake　of　placing
themselves　on　the　front　seat。　　The　Empress　was　first　to　perceive　this；
and　both　she　and　her　husband　were　much　amused。

I　could　not　attempt　to　describe　the　cortege；　although　I　still　retain　most
vivid　recollections　of　the　scene；　because　1　should　have　too　much　to　say。
Picture　to　yourself；　then；　ten　thousand　cavalry　superbly　mounted；
defiling　between　two　rows　of　infantry　equally　imposing；　each　body
covering　a　distance　of　nearly　half　a　league。　　Then　think　of　the　number　of
the　equipages；　of　their　magnificence；　the　splendor　of　the　trappings　of
the　horses；　and　of　the　uniforms　of　the　soldiers；　of　the　crowds　of
musicians　playing　coronation　marches；　added　to　the　ringing　of　bells　and
booming　of　cannon；　then　to　all　this　add　the　effect　produced　by　this
immense　multitude　of　from　four　to　five　hundred　thousand　spectators；　and
still　one　would　be　very　far　from　obtaining　a　correct　idea　of　this
astonishing　magnificence。

In　the　month　of　December　it　is　very　rare　that　the　weather　is　fine；　but　on
that