napoleon bonaparte, v10-第12章
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seen in his carriage; but a figure made of wax。 Nevertheless; when next
day he appeared before the eyes of all on horseback in a meadow in front
of the gates of the city; they were compelled to admit that he still
lived。
The Emperor alighted at the Marcolini palace; a charming summer residence
situated in the faubourg of Friedrichstadt。 An immense garden; the
beautiful meadows of Osterwise on the banks of the Elbe; in addition to
an extremely fine landscape; rendered this sojourn much more attractive
than that of the winter palace; and consequently the Emperor was most
grateful to the King of Saxony for having prepared it for him。 There he
led the same life as at Schoenbrunn; reviews every morning; much work
during the day; and few distractions in the evening; in fact; more
simplicity than display。 The middle of the day was spent in cabinet
labors; and during that time such perfect tranquillity reigned in the
palace; that except for the presence of two sentinels on horseback and
videttes; which showed that it was the dwelling of a sovereign; it would
have been difficult to imagine that this beautiful residence was
inhabited even by the simplest private citizen。
The Emperor had chosen for his apartments the right wing of the palace;
the left was occupied by the Prince de Neuchatel。 In the center of the
building were a large saloon and two smaller ones which served as
reception rooms。
Two days after his return; his Majesty sent orders to Paris that the
actors of the 〃Comedy〃 Theater from Paris should spend the time of the
armistice at Dresden。 The Duke of Vicenza; charged in the interim with
the duties of grand marshal of the palace; was ordered to make all
necessary preparations to receive them。 He committed this duty to the
care of Messieurs de Beausset and de Turenne; to whom the Emperor gave
the superintendence of the theater; and a hall to be used for this
purpose was erected in the orangery of the Marcolini palace。 This hall
communicated with the apartments; and could seat about two hundred
persons。 It was erected as if by magic; and was opened; while awaiting
the arrival of the French troupe; with two or three representations given
by the Italian comedians of the King of Saxony。
The actors from Paris were: For tragedy; Messieurs Saint…Prix and Talma
and Mademoiselle Georges。
For comedy: Messieurs Fleury; Saint…Fal; Baptiste the younger; Armand;
Thenard; Michot; Devigny; Michelot and Barbier; Mesdames Mars; Bourgoin;
Thenard; Emilie Contat; and Mezeray。
The management of the theater was given to M。 Despres。
All these actors arrived on the 19th of June; and found every arrangement
made for their comfort;tastefully furnished lodgings; carriages;
servants; everything which could enable them to agreeably endure the
ennui of a residence in a foreign land; and prove to them at the same
time how highly his Majesty appreciated their talents; an appreciation
which most of them richly merited; both on account of their excellent
social qualities; and the nobility and refinement of their manners。
The debut of the French troupe at the theater of the Orangery took place
on the 22d of June; in the 'Gageure Imprevue'; and another piece; then
much in vogue at Paris; and which has often since been witnessed with
much pleasure; 'La Suite d'un Bal Masque'。
As the theater of the Orangery would have been too small for the
representation of tragedy; that was reserved for the grand theater of the
city; and persons were admitted on those occasions only by cards from the
Count of Turenne; no admission fee being charged。
At the grand theater on the days of the French play; and also in the
theater at the Marcolini palace; the footmen of his Majesty attended upon
the boxes; and served refreshments while the piece was being played。
This is how the days were spent after the arrival of the actors of the
French theater。
Everything was quiet until eight o'clock in the morning; unless a courier
arrived; or some aide…de…camp was unexpectedly summoned。 At eight
o'clock I dressed the Emperor; at nine he held his levee; which all could
attend who held as high a rank as colonel。 The civil and military
authorities of the country were also admitted; the Dukes of Weimar and
d'Anhalt; the brothers and nephews of the King of Saxony; sometimes
attended。 Next came breakfast; then the parade in the meadows of
Osterwise; about one hundred paces distant from the palace; to which the
Emperor always went on horseback; and dismounted on arriving; the troops
filed before him; and cheered him three times with their customary
enthusiasm。 The evolutions were commanded sometimes by the Emperor;
sometimes by the Count of Lobau。 As soon as the cavalry began to defile;
his majesty re…entered the palace and began to work。 Then began that
perfect stillness of which I have spoken; and dinner was not served until
late;seven or eight o'clock。 The Emperor often dined alone with the
Prince de Neuchatel; unless there were guests from the royal family of
Saxony。 After dinner they attended the theater; when there was a play;
and afterwards the Emperor returned to his cabinet to work again; either
alone or with his secretaries。
Each day it was the same thing; unless; which was very rarely the case;
fatigued beyond measure by the labors of the day; the Emperor took a
fancy to send for Madame Georges after the tragedy。 Then she passed two
or three hours in his apartment; but never more。
Sometimes the Emperor invited Talma or Mademoiselle Mars to breakfast。
One day; in a conversation with this admirable actress; the Emperor spoke
to her concerning her debut。 〃Sire;〃 said she; in that graceful manner
which every one remembers; 〃I began very young。 I slipped in without
being perceived。〃〃Without being perceived!〃 replied his Majesty
quickly; 〃you are mistaken。 Be assured moreover; Mademoiselle; that I
have always; in common with all France; highly appreciated your wonderful
talents。〃
The Emperor's stay at Dresden brought wealth and abundance。 More than
six million francs of foreign money were spent in this city between the
8th of May and 16th of November; if one can believe the statements
published on Saxon authority of the number of lodgings distributed。 This
sojourn was a harvest of gold; which keepers of boarding…houses; hotels;
and merchants carefully reaped。 Those in charge of military lodgings
furnished by the inhabitants also made large profits。 At Dresden could
be seen Parisian tailors and bootmakers; teaching the natives to work in
the French style。 Even bootblacks were found on the bridges over the
Elbe; crying; as they had cried on the bridges of the Seine; 〃Shine your
boots!〃
Around the city numerous camps had been established for the wounded;
convalescents; etc。 One of these; called the Westphalian camp; presented
a most beautiful scene。 It was a succession of beautiful small gardens;
there a fortress made of turf; its bastions crowned with hortensias; here
a plot had been converted into a terrace; its walks ornamented with
flowers; like the most carefully tended parterre; on a third was seen a
statue of Pallas。 The whole barrack was decked with moss; and decorated
with boughs and garlands which were renewed each day。
As the armistice would end on the 15th of August; the fete of his Majesty
was advanced five days。 The army; the town; and the court had made
extensive preparations in order that the ceremony might be worthy of him
in whose honor it was given。 All the richest and most distinguished
inhabitants of Dresden vied with each other in balls; concerts;
festivities; and rejoicings of all sorts。 The morning before the day of
the review; the King of Saxony came to the residence of the Emperor with
all his family; and the two sovereigns manifested the warmest friendship
for each other。 They breakfasted together; after which his Majesty;
accompanied by the King of Saxony; his brothers and nephews; repaired to
the meadow behind the palace; where fifteen thousand men of the guard
awaited him in as fine condition as on the most brilliant parades on the
Champ…de…Mars。
After the review; the French and Saxon tro