napoleon bonaparte, v4-第20章

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them；　being　just　relieved　at　his　post；　he　was　a　young　grenadier　of　the
line。　　The　Emperor　ordered　him　to　approach；　and；　pinching　his　cheeks
hard；　exclaimed；　〃What；　you　scamp；　you　took　me　for　a　Prussian！　　This
rascal　does　not　throw　away　his　powder　on　sparrows；　he　shoots　only　at
emperors。〃　　The　poor　soldier　was　completely　overcome　with　the　idea　that
he　might　have　killed　the　little　corporal；　whom　he　adored　as　much　as　did
the　rest　of　the　army；　and　it　was　with　great　difficulty　he　could　say；
〃Pardon；　Sire；　but　I　was　obeying　orders；　and　if　you　did　not　answer；　it
was　not　my　fault。　　I　was　compelled　to　have　the　countersign；　and　you　would
not　give　it。〃　　The　Emperor　reassured　him　with　a　smile；　and　said；　as　he
left　the　post；　〃My　brave　boy；　I　do　not　reproach　you。　　That　was　pretty
well　aimed　for　a　shot　fired　in　the　dark；　but　after　awhile　it　will　be
daylight；　take　better　aim；　and　I　will　remember　you。〃

The　results　of　the　Battle　of　Jena；　fought　on　the　14th　of　October　（1806）；
are　well　known。　　Almost　all　the　Prussian　generals；　at　least　the　bravest
among　them；　were　there　taken　prisoners；　or　rendered　unable　to　continue
the　campaign。

The　king　and　queen　took　flight；　and　did　not　halt　till　they　had　reached
Koenigsberg。

A　few　moments　before　the　attack；　the　Queen　of　Prussia；　mounted　on　a
noble；　graceful　steed；　had　appeared　in　the　midst　of　the　soldiers；　and；
followed　by　the　elite　of　the　youth　of　Berlin；　this　royal　Amazon　had
galloped　down　the　front　rank　of　the　line　of　battle。　　The　numerous　banners
which　her　own　hands　had　embroidered　to　encourage　her　troops；　with　those
of　the　great　Frederick；　blackened　by　the　smoke　of　many　battles；　were
lowered　at　her　approach；　amid　shouts　of　enthusiasm　which　rang　through　the
entire　ranks　of　the　Prussian　army。　　The　atmosphere　was　so　clear；　and　the
two　armies　so　near　each　other；　that　the　French　could　easily　distinguish
the　costume　of　the　queen。

This　striking　costume　was；　in　fact；　one　great　cause　of　the　danger　she
encountered　in　her　flight。　　Her　head　was　covered　with　a　helmet　of
polished　steel；　above　which　waved　a　magnificent　plume；　her　cuirass
glittered　with　gold　and　silver；　while　a　tunic　of　silver　cloth　completed
her　costume　and　fell　to　her　feet；　which　were　shod　in　red　boots　with　gold
spurs。　　This　dress　heightened　the　charms　of　the　beautiful　queen。

When　the　Prussian　army　was　put　to　flight；　the　queen　was　left　alone　with
three　or　four　young　men　of　Berlin；　who　defended　her　until　two　hussars；
who　had　covered　themselves　with　glory　during　the　battle；　rushed　at　a
gallop　with　drawn　sabers　on　this　little　group；　and　they　were　instantly
dispersed。　　Frightened　by　this　sudden　onset；　the　horse　which　her　Majesty
rode　fled　with　all　the　strength　of　his　limbs；　and　well　was　it　for　the
fugitive　queen　that　he　was　swift　as　a　stag；　else　the　two　hussars　would
infallibly　have　made　her　a　prisoner；　for　more　than　once　they　pressed　so
close　that　she　heard　their　rude　speeches　and　coarse　jests；　which　were　of
such　a　nature　as　to　shock　her　ears。

The　queen；　thus　pursued；　had　arrived　in　sight　of　the　gate　of　Weimar；　when
a　strong　detachment　of　Klein's　dragoons　were　perceived　coming　at　full
speed；　the　chief　having　orders　to　capture　the　queen　at　any　cost；　but；　the
instant　she　entered　the　city；　the　gates　swung　to　behind　her；　and　the
hussars　and　the　detachment　of　dragoons　returned　disappointed　to　the
battle…field。

The　particulars　of　this　singular　pursuit　soon　reached　the　Emperor's　ears；
and　he　summoned　the　hussars　to　his　presence；　and　having　in　strong　terms
testified　his　disapproval　of　the　improper　jests　that　they　had　dared　to
make　regarding　the　queen；　at　a　time　when　her　misfortunes　should　have
increased　the　respect　due　both　to　her　rank　and　her　sex；　the　Emperor　then
performed　the　duty　of　rewarding　these　two　brave　fellows　for　the　manner　in
which　they　had　borne　themselves　on　the　field　of　battle。　　Knowing　that
they　had　dons　prodigies　of　valor；　his　Majesty　gave　them　the　cross；　and
ordered　three　hundred　francs　to　be　given　each　one　as　gratuity。

The　Emperor　exercised　his　clemency　toward　the　Duke　of　Weimar；　who　had
commanded　a　Prussian　division。　　The　day　after　the　battle　of　Jena；　his
Majesty；　having　reached　Weimar；　lodged　at　the　ducal　palace；　where　he　was
received　by　the　duchess　regent；　to　whom　he　said；　〃Madame；　I　owe　you
something　for　having　awaited　me；　and　in　appreciation　of　the　confidence
you　have　manifested　in　me；　I　pardon　your　husband。〃

While　we　were　in　the　army　I　slept　in　the　Emperor's　tent；　either　on　a
little　rug；　or　on　the　bearskin　which　he　used　in　his　carriage；　or　when　it
happened　that　I　could　not　make　use　of　these　articles；　I　tried　to　procure
a　bed…of　straw；　and　remember　one　evening　having　rendered　a　great　service
to　the　King　of　Naples；　by　sharing　with　him　the　bundle　of　straw　which　was
to　have　served　as　my　bed。

I　here　give　a　few　details　from　which　the　reader　can　form　an　idea　of　the
manner　in　which　I　passed　the　nights　on　the　campaign。

The　Emperor　slept　on　his　little　iron　bedstead；　and　I　slept　where　I　could。
Hardly　did　I　fall　asleep　before　the　Emperor　called　me；　〃Constant。〃
〃Sire。〃〃See　who　is　on　duty〃　（it　was　the　aides…de…camp　to　whom　he
referred）。〃Sire；　it。　　is　M。〃〃Tell　him　to　come　to　me。〃　　I　then
went　out　of　the　tent　to　summon　the　officer；　and　brought　him　back　with　me。
On　his　entrance　the　Emperor　said　to　him；　〃Report　to　such　a　corps；
commanded　by　such　a　marshal；　you　will　request　him　to　send　such　a　regiment
to　such　a　position；　you　will　ascertain　the　position　of　the　enemy；　then
you　will　return　to　report。〃　　The　aide…de…camp；　having　left　on　horseback
to　execute　these　orders；　I　lay　down　again；　and　the　Emperor　now　seemed　to
be　going　to　sleep；　but；　at　the　end　of　a　few　moments；　I　heard　him　call
again；　〃Constant。〃　〃Sire。〃　〃Have　the　Prince　de　Neuchatel　summoned。
〃I　sent　for　the　prince；　who　came　at　once；　and　during　the　conversation　I
must　remain　at　the　door　of　the　tent；　until　the　prince　wrote　several
orders　and　withdrew。　　These　interruptions　took　place　many　times　during
the　night；　and　at　last　towards　morning　his　Majesty　slept；　when　I　also　had
a　few　moments　of　repose。

When　aides…de…camp　arrived；　bringing　any　news　to　the　Emperor；　I　awoke
him；　by　shaking　him　gently。

〃What　is　it？〃　said　his　Majesty；　waking　with　a　start；　〃what　o'clock　is　it？
Let　him　enter。〃　　The　aide…de…camp　made　his　report；　and　if　it　was
necessary；　his　Majesty　rose　immediately；　and　left　the　tent；　his　toilet
never　occupying　much　time。　　If　a　battle　was　in　contemplation　the　Emperor
scanned　the　sky　and　the　horizon　carefully；　and　often　remarked；　〃We　are
going　to　have　a　beautiful　day。〃

Breakfast　was　prepared　and　served　in　five　minutes；　and　at　the　end　of　a
quarter　of　an　hour　the　cloth　was　removed。　　The　Prince　de　Neuchatel
breakfasted　and　dined　every　day　with　his　Majesty；　and；　in　eight　or　ten
minutes；　the　longest　meal　was　over。　　〃To　horse；〃　then　exclaimed　the
Emperor；　and　set　out；　accompanied　by　the　Prince　de　Neuchatel；　and　an
aide…de…camp　or　two；　with　Roustan；　who　always　carried　a　silver　flask　of
brandy；　which；　however；　the　Emperor　rarely　ever　used。　　His　Majesty　passed
from　one　corps　to　the　other；　spoke　to　the　officers　and　soldiers；
questioned　them；　and　saw　with　his　own　eyes　all　that　it　was　possible　to
see。

If　a　battle　was　on　hand；　dinner　was　forgotten；　and　the　Emperor　ate　only
after　his　return；　but；　if　the　engagement　lasted　too　long；　there　was
carried　to　him；　without　his　ordering　it；　a　crust　of　bread　and　a　little
wine。

M。　Colin；　chief　of　the　culinary　department；　many　times　braved　the　cannon
to　carry　a　light　repast　to　the　Emperor。

At　the　close　of　the　combat；　his　Majesty　never　failed　to　visit　the　battle…
field；　where　he　had　aid　given　the　wounded；　and　encouraged　them　with
cheering　words。

The　Emperor　sometimes　returned　overcome　by　fatigue；　he　then　took　a　light
repast；　and　lay　down　again　to　begin　his　interrupted　sleep。

It　was　remarkable；　that；　each　time　that　unexpected　circumstances　forced
the　aides…de…camp　to　have　the　Emperor　waked；　he　was　as　ready　for　work　as
he　would　have　been　at　the　beginning　or　in　the　middle　of　the　day；　and　his
awaking　was　as　amiable　as　his　manner　was　pleasant。　　The　report　of　an
aide…de…camp　being　finished；　Napoleon　went　to　sleep　again　as　easily　a