napoleon bonaparte, v10-第7章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
the heights of Chaillot overlooked Paris。 The Emperor did not appear to
notice M。 Fontaine's remark； and had two or three days previously given
orders that the chateau of Meudon should be put in a condition to receive
his son； when one morning he summoned the architect； and ordered him to
present a plan for embellishing the Bois de Boulogne； by adding a country
house on the summit of Chaillot。 〃What do you think of it？〃 added he；
smiling； 〃does the site appear well chosen？〃
One morning in the month of March； the Emperor brought his son to a
review on the Champ…de…Mars； he was received with indescribable
enthusiasm； the sincerity of which was undoubted； and it could easily be
seen that these acclamations came from the heart。
The Emperor was deeply moved by this reception； and returned to the
Tuileries in a most charming frame of mind； caressed the King of Rome；
covered him with kisses； and dilated to M。 Fontaine and myself on the
precocious intelligence displayed by this beloved child。 〃He was not at
all frightened； he seemed to know that all those brave men were my
friends。〃 On that day he held a long conversation with M。 Fontaine；
while amusing himself with his son； whom he held in his arms； and when
the conversation turned on Rome and its monuments； M。 Fontaine spoke of
the Pantheon with the most profound admiration。 The Emperor asked if he
had ever lived at Rome； and M。 Fontaine having replied that he remained
there three years on his first visit； his Majesty remarked； 〃It is a city
I have not seen； I shall certainly go there some day。 It is the city
whose people formerly were the sovereigns of the world。〃 And his eyes
were fixed on the King of Rome with paternal pride。
When M。 Fontaine had left； the Emperor made me a sign to approach； and
began by pulling my ears； according to custom when in good humor。 After
a few personal questions； he asked me what was my salary。 〃Sire； six
thousand francs。〃〃And Monsieur Colin； how much has he？〃〃Twelve
thousand francs。〃〃Twelve thousand francs！ that is not right； you should
not have less than M。 Colin。 I will attend to that。〃 And his Majesty
was kind enough to make immediate inquiries； but was told that the
accounts for the year were made out； whereupon the Emperor informed me
that till the end of the year； M。 le Baron Fain
＇Born in Paris； 1778； attended Napoleon in his campaigns as
Secretary of the Records； wrote memoirs of the last three years of
Napoleon's reign； died 1837。＇
would give me each month out of his privy purse five hundred francs； as
he wished that my salary should equal that of M。 Colin。
CHAPTER XI。
After the Emperor left the army and committed； as we have seen； the
command to the King of Naples； his Sicilian Majesty also abandoned the
command intrusted to him； and set out for his states； leaving Prince
Eugene at the head of the forces。 The Emperor was deeply interested in
the news he received from Posen； where the general headquarters were in
the latter part of February and beginning of March； and where the prince
vice…king had under his orders only the remains of different corps； some
of which were represented by a very small number of men。
Moreover； each time that the Russians appeared in force； there was
nothing to be done but to fall back； and each day during the month of
March the news became more and more depressing。 The Emperor consequently
decided at the end of March to set out at an early day for the army。
For some time previous the Emperor； much impressed by Malet's conspiracy
during his last absence； had expressed the opinion that it was dangerous
to leave his government without a head； and the journals had been filled
with information relative to the ceremonies required when the regency of
the kingdom had been left in the hands of queens in times past。 As the
public well knew the means frequently adopted by his Majesty to foster in
advance opinions favorable to any course of conduct he intended to
pursue； no one was surprised to see him before leaving confide the
regency to the Empress Marie Louise； circumstances not having yet
furnished him the opportunity of having her crowned； as he had long
desired。 The Empress took the solemn oath at the palace of the Elysee；
in presence of the princes； great dignitaries； and ministers。 The Duke
of Cadore was made secretary of the regency； as counselor to her Majesty
the Empress； together with the arch…chancellor； and the command of the
guard was confided to General Caffarelli。
The Emperor left Saint…Cloud on the 15th of April； at four o'clock in the
morning； and at midnight of the 16th entered Mayence。 On his arrival his
Majesty learned that Erfurt and the whole of Westphalia were in a state
of the deepest alarm。 This news added incredible speed to his march； and
in eight hours he was at Erfurt。 His Majesty remained but a short while
in that town； as the information that he there received set his mind at
rest as to the result of the campaign。 On leaving Erfurt the Emperor
wished to pass through Weimar in order to salute the grand duchess； and
made his visit on the same day and at the same hour that the Emperor
Alexander went from Dresden to Toeplitz in order to visit another Duchess
of Weimar （the hereditary princess； her sister）。
The grand duchess received the Emperor with a grace which enchanted him；
and their conversation lasted nearly half an hour。 On leaving； his
Majesty said to the Prince de Neuchatel； 〃That is an astonishing woman；
she has the intellect of a great man。〃 The Duke accompanied the Emperor
as far as the borough of Eckhartsberg； where his Majesty detained him to
dine。
NOTE BY CONSTANT。His Majesty's household； reorganized in part for this
campaign of 1813； was composed of the following persons：
Grand marshal of the palace； the Duke of Frioul。
Grand equerry； the Duke of Vicenza。
Aides…de…camp： Generals Mouton； Count de Lobau； Lebrun； Duke de
Plaisance； Generals Drouot； Flahaut； Dejean； Corbineau； Bernard；
Durosnel； and Aogendorp。
First ordinance officer； Colonel Gourgaud。
Ordinance officers： Baron de Mortemart； Baron Athalin； M。 Beranger； M。 de
Lauriston； Messieurs Barons Desaix； Laplace； and de Caraman； Messieurs de
Saint Marsan； de Lamezan； Pretet； and Pailhou； there was also M。
d'Aremberg； but at this time he was a prisoner in the town of Dantzic。
First chamberlain and master of the wardrobe； the Count of Turenne。
Prefect of the palace； Baron de Beausset。
Quartermaster of the palace； Baron de Canouville。
Equerries； Barons Van Lenneps； Montaran；and de Mesgrigny。
Private secretaries； Baron Mounier and Baron Fain。
Clerks； Messieurs Jouanne and Provost。
Secretary interpreters； Messieurs Lelorgue； Dideville； and Vouzowitch。
Director of the topographical bureau； Baron Bacler d'Albe。
Geographical engineers； Messieurs Lameau and Duvivier。
Pages； Messieurs Montarieu； Devienne； Sainte Perne； and Ferreri。
The Emperor had his headquarters on the square of Eckhartsberg。 He had
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 co
