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第4章

napoleon bonaparte, v11-第4章

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of Saxony。  The interview was short; but distressing and most
affectionate on the part of each。

The king manifested the most profound indignation at the conduct of his
troops。  〃I could never have imagined it;〃 said he; 〃I thought better of
my Saxons; they are only cowards; 〃 and his grief was so intense that the
Emperor; notwithstanding the immense disadvantage which had accrued to
him from the desertion of the Saxons during the battle; sought to console
this excellent prince。

As his Majesty urged him to quit Leipzig in order that he might not be
exposed to the dangers attending the capitulation which had now become
absolutely necessary; this venerable prince replied; 〃No; you have
already done enough; and it is carrying generosity too far to risk your
person by remaining a few minutes longer in order to console us。〃  Whilst
the King of Saxony was expressing himself thus; the sound of heavy firing
of musketry was heard; and the queen and Princess Augusta joined their
entreaties to those of the monarch; in their excessive fright already
seeing the Emperor taken and slain by the Prussians。  Some officers
entered; and announced that the Prince Royal of Sweden had already forced
the entrance of one of the faubourgs; that General Beningsen; General
Blucher; and the Prince von Swarzenberg were entering the city on every
side; and that our troops were reduced to the necessity of defending
themselves from house to house; and the Emperor was himself exposed to
imminent peril。  As there was not a moment to lose; he consented at。
last to withdraw; and the King of Saxony escorted him as far as the foot
of the palace staircase; where they embraced each other for the last
time。




CHAPTER XVI。

It was exceedingly difficult to find an exit from Leipzig; as this town
was surrounded on every side by the enemy。  It had been proposed to the
Emperor to burn the faubourgs which the heads of the columns of the
allied armies had reached; in order to make his retreat more sure; but he
indignantly rejected this proposal; being unwilling to leave as a last
adieu to the King of Saxony his cities abandoned to the flames。  After
releasing him from his oath of fidelity; and exhorting him to now
consider only his own interests; the Emperor left him; and directed his
course to the gate of Ramstadt; but he found it so encumbered that it was
an impossibility to clear a passage; and he was compelled to retrace his
steps; again cross the city; and leave it through the northern gate; thus
regaining the only point from which he could; as he intended; march on
Erfurt; that is; from the boulevards on the west。  The enemy were not yet
completely masters of the town; and it was the general opinion that it
could have been defended much longer if the Emperor had not feared to
expose it to the horrors of a siege。  The Duke of Ragusa continued to
offer strong resistance in the faubourg of Halle to the repeated attacks
of General Blucher; while Marshal Ney calmly saw the combined forces of
General Woronzow;  the Prussian corps under the orders of General Billow;
and the Swedish army; break themselves to pieces against his impregnable
defenses。

So much valor was nevertheless at last compelled to yield to numbers; and
above all to treachery; for at the height of the combat before the gates
of Leipzig; a battalion from Baden; which until then had fought valiantly
in the French ranks; suddenly abandoned the gate Saint…Peter; which it
was commissioned to defend; and at the entrance to the city gave itself
up to the enemy。  Thereupon; according to what I have heard related by
several officers who were in this terrible tumult; the streets of Leipzig
presented a most horrible sight; and our soldiers; now compelled to
retire; could do so only by disputing every step of the ground。  An
irreparable misfortune soon filled the Emperor's soul with despair。

I shall now relate the events which signalized this deplorable day just
as my memory recalls them。  I do not know to what cause to attribute it;
but none of the many stirring events which I witnessed present themselves
more distinctly before my mind than a scene which took place under the
walls of Leipzig。  Having triumphed over incredible obstacles; we at last
succeeded in crossing the Elster on the bridge at the mill of Lindenau。
I can still see the Emperor as he stationed officers along the road
charged to indicate to stragglers where they might rejoin their
respective commands。  On this day; after the immense loss sustained owing
to a disparity of numbers; he showed the same solicitude concerning
everything as after a decisive triumph。  But he was so overcome by
fatigue that a few moments of sleep became absolutely necessary; and he
slept profoundly under the noise of the cannon which thundered around him
on all sides。  Suddenly a terrible explosion occurred; and a few moments
after the King of Naples entered his Majesty's barrack accompanied by
Marshal Augereau。  They brought sad news…the great bridge over the Elster
had just been blown up。  This was the last point of communication with
the rear guard; which consisted of twenty thousand men now left on the
other side of the river under the command of Marshal Macdonald。  〃This;
then; is how my orders are executed!〃 exclaimed the Emperor; clasping his
head between his hands。  He remained a moment buried in thought and
absorbed in his own reflections。

The fact was; his Majesty had given orders to undermine all the bridges
over the Elster and have them blown up; but not until after the French
army had crossed the river in safety。  I have since heard this event
discussed from many points of view; and have read many contradictory
accounts。  It is not my province to shed light on a point of history
which forms such a subject of controversy; and I have consequently
limited myself to relating as I have done only what came within my own
knowledge。  Nevertheless; I may be permitted to make to my readers one
simple observation which presents itself to my mind whenever I read or
hear it said that the Emperor himself had the bridge blown up in order to
shelter himself from the enemy's pursuit。  I ask pardon for such an
expression; but this supposition appeared to me an absurdity so
incredible as to surpass belief; for it is very evident that if under
these disastrous circumstances he could think only of his own personal
safety; he would not a short time before have voluntarily prolonged his
stay in the palace of the King of Saxony; where he was exposed to much
more imminent danger than he could have encountered after leaving
Leipzig。  Moreover; the Emperor was far from enjoying the consternation
which struck him when he learned that twenty thousand of his brave
soldiers were separated from him perhaps forever。

How many misfortunes were the inevitable results of the destruction of
the last bridge on the road from Leipzig to Lindenau!  And how many deeds
of heroism; the greater part of which will remain forever unknown; mark
this disaster!  Marshal Macdonald; seeing himself separated from the
army; plunged on horseback into the Elster; and was fortunate enough to
reach the other bank; but General Dumortier; attempting to follow his
intrepid chief; disappeared and perished in the waves with a great number
of officers and soldiers; for all had sworn not to surrender themselves
to the enemy; and it was only a small number who submitted to the cruel
necessity of being made prisoners。  The death of Prince Poniatowski
caused intense sorrow in the heart of the Emperor; and it may be said
that every one at headquarters was deeply distressed at the loss of our
Polish hero; and all were eager to learn the particulars of so grievous
and irreparable a misfortune。  As was well known; his Majesty had given
him orders to cover the retreat of the army; and all felt that the
Emperor could not have bestowed this trust more worthily。  It is related
that seeing himself pressed by the enemy against the bank of the river;
with no means of crossing; he was heard to say to those around him;
〃Gentlemen; here we must die with honor!〃  It is added that putting into
practice this heroic resoluti

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