napoleon bonaparte, v7-第4章
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and he remounted his horse immediately； and； though several of the
generals insisted on his resting； he only replied： 〃My friends； do you
not know that it is necessary for me to see everything？〃 The enthusiasm
of the soldiers cannot be expressed when they learned that their chief
had been wounded； though his wound was not dangerous。 〃The Emperor is
exposed like us；〃 they said； 〃he is not a coward； not he。〃 The papers
did not mention this occurrence。
Before entering a battle； the Emperor always ordered that； in case he was
wounded； every possible measure should be taken to conceal it from his
troops。 〃Who knows；〃 said he； 〃what terrible confusion might be produced
by such news？ To my life is attached the destiny of a great Empire。
Remember this； gentlemen； and if I am wounded； let no one know it； if
possible。 If I am slain； try to win the battle without me； there will be
time enough to tell it afterwards。〃
Two weeks after the capture of Ratisbon； I was in advance of his Majesty
on the road to Vienna； alone in a carriage with an officer of the
household； when we suddenly heard frightful screams in a house on the
edge of the road。 I gave orders to stop at once； and we alighted； and；
on entering the house； found several soldiers； or rather stragglers； as
there are in all armies； who； paying no attention to the alliance between
France and Bavaria； were treating most cruelly a family which lived in
this house； and consisted of an old grandmother； a young man； three
children； and a young girl。
Our embroidered coats had a happy effect on these madmen； whom we
threatened with the Emperor's anger； and we succeeded in driving them out
of the house； and soon after took our departure； overwhelmed with thanks。
In the evening I spoke to the Emperor of what I had done； and he approved
highly； saying； 〃It cannot be helped。 There are always some cowardly
fellows in the army； and they are the ones who do the mischief。 A brave
and good soldier would blush to do such things！〃
I had occasion； in the beginning of these Memoirs； to speak of the
steward； M。 Pfister； one of his Majesty's most faithful servants； and
also one of those to whom his Majesty was most attached。 M。 Pfister had
followed him to Egypt； and had faced countless dangers in his service。
The day of the battle of Landshut； which either preceded or followed very
closely the taking of Ratisbon this poor man became insane； rushed out of
his tent； and concealed himself in a wood near the field of battle； after
taking off all his clothing。 At the end of a few hours his Majesty asked
for M。 Pfister。 He was sought for； and every one was questioned； but no
one could tell what had become of him。 The Emperor； fearing that he
might have been taken prisoner； sent an orderly officer to the Austrians
to recover his steward； and propose an exchange； but the officer
returned； saying that the Austrians had not seen M。 Pfister。 The
Emperor； much disquieted； ordered a search to be made in the
neighborhood； and by this means the poor fellow was discovered entirely
naked； as I have said； cowering behind a tree； in a frightful condition；
his body torn by thorns。 He was brought back； and having become
perfectly quiet； was thought to be well； and resumed his duties； but a
short time after our return to Paris he had a new attack。 The character
of his malady was exceedingly obscene； and he presented himself before
the Empress Josephine in such a state of disorder； and with such indecent
gestures； that it was necessary to take precautions in regard to him。
He was confided to the care of the wise Doctor Esquirol； who； in spite of
his great skill； could not effect a cure。 I went to see him often。 He
had no more violent attacks； but his brain was diseased； and though he
heard and understood perfectly； his replies were those of a real madman。
He never lost his devotion to the Emperor； spoke of him incessantly； and
imagined himself on duty near him。 One day he told me with a most
mysterious air that he wished to confide to me a terrible secret； the
plot of a conspiracy against his Majesty's life； handing me at the same
time a note for his Majesty； with a package of about twenty scraps of
paper； which he had scribbled off himself； and thought were the details
of the plot。 Another time he handed me； for the Emperor； a handful of
little stones； which he called diamonds of great value。 〃There is more
than a million in what I hand you；〃 said he。 The Emperor； whom I told of
my visits； was exceedingly touched by the continued monomania of this
poor unfortunate； whose every thought； every act； related to his old
master； and who died without regaining his reason。
On the 10th of May； at nine o'clock in the morning； the first line of
defense of the Austrian capital was attacked and taken by Marshal Oudinot
the faubourgs surrendering at discretion。 The Duke of Montebello then
advanced on the esplanade at the head of his division； but the gates
having been closed； the garrison poured a frightful discharge from the
top of the ramparts； which fortunately however killed only a very small
number。 The Duke of Montebello summoned the garrison to surrender the
town； but the response of the Archduke Maximilian was that he would
defend Vienna with his last breath； which reply was conveyed to the
Emperor。
After taking counsel with his generals； his Majesty charged Colonel
Lagrange to bear a new demand to the archduke； but the poor colonel had
hardly entered the town than he was attacked by the infuriated populace。
General O'Reilly saved his life by having him carried away by his
soldiers； but the Archduke Maximilian； in order to defy the Emperor still
further； paraded in triumph in the midst of the national guard the
individual who has struck the first blow at the bearer of the French
summons。 This attempt； which had excited the indignation of many of the
Viennese themselves； did not change his Majesty's intentions； as he
wished to carry his moderation and kindness as far as possible； and he
wrote to the archduke by the Prince of Neuchatel the following letter； a
copy of which accidentally fell into my hands：
〃The Prince de Neuchatel to his Highness the Archduke Maximilian；
commanding the town of Vienna；
〃His Majesty the Emperor and King desires to spare this large and
worthy population the calamities with which it is threatened； and
charges me to represent to your Highness； that if he continues the
attempt to defend this place； it will cause the destruction of one
of the finest cities of Europe。 In every country where he has waged
war； my sovereign has manifested his anxiety to avoid the disasters
which armies bring on the population。 Your Highness must be
persuaded that his Majesty is much grieved to see this town； which
he has the glory of having already saved； on the point of being
destroyed。 Nevertheless； contrary to the established usage of
fortresses； your Highness has fired your cannon from the city walls；
and these cannon may kill； not an enemy of your sovereign； but the
wives or children of his most devoted servants。 If your Highness
prolongs the attempt to defend the place； his Majesty will be
compelled to begin his preparations for attack； and the ruin of this
immense capital will be consummated in thirty…six hours； by the
shells and bombs from our batteries； as the outskirts of the town
will be destroyed by the effect of yours。 His Majesty does not
doubt that these considerations will influence your Highness to
renounce a determination which will only delay for a short while the
capture of the place。 If； however； your Highness has decided not to
pursue a course which will save the town from destruction； its
population plunged by your fault into such terrible misfortunes will
become； instead of faithful subjects； the enemies of your house。〃
This letter did not deter the grand duke from persisting in his defense；
and this obstinacy exasperated the Emperor to such a degree that he at
last gave orders to place two batteries in position； and within
