napoleon bonaparte, v9-第2部分

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might　be　informed　of　this；　and　might　seize　everything　on　its　arrival　in
France。　　These　carriages；　bearing　the　arms　of　the　Emperor；　passed　the
Rhine　filled　with　this　precious　luggage；　and　arrived　at　the　gates　of
Coblentz；　which　furnished　an　occasion　of　painful　uncertainty　to　the
officers　of　the　custom…house；　while　they　deliberated　whether　they　should
arrest　and　examine　the　carriages；　or　should　permit　a　convoy　to　pass
unmolested　because　it　professed　to　belong　to　the　Emperor。　　After　mature
deliberation；　the　majority　adopted　this　alternative；　and　the　carriages
successfully　passed　the　first　line　of　French　custom…houses；　and　reached
port　in　safety；that　is　to　say；　Paris；with　its　cargo　of　prohibited
merchandise。　　If　the　carriages　had　been　stopped；　it　is　probable　that
Napoleon　would　have　highly　applauded　the　courage　of　the　inspectors　of
customs；　and　would　have　pitilessly　burned　the　confiscated　articles。

Their　Majesties　arrived　at　Utrecht　the　6th　of　October；　and　found　every
house　on　the　quays　as　well　as　the　streets　decorated　with　ribbons　and
garlands。　　The　rain　was　falling　in　torrents；　but　this　did　not　prevent　the
authorities　being　on　foot　from　early　in　the　morning；　and　the　population
filling　the　streets。　　As　soon　as　he　alighted　from　his　carriage；　Napoleon；
in　spite　of　the　weather；　mounted　his　horse；　and　went　to　hold　a　review　of
several　regiments　stationed　at　the　gates　of　Utrecht；　accompanied　by　a
numerous　staff；　and　a　large　number　of　curious　persons；　most　of　them　wet
to　the　skin。　　After　the　review　Napoleon　entered　the　palace；　where　the
entire　deputation　awaited　him　in　an　immense　hall；　still　unfurnished；
though　it　had　been　built　by　King　Louis；　and　without　changing　his　clothing
gave　audience　to　all　who　were　eager　to　congratulate　him；　and　listened
with　most　exemplary　patience　to　the　harangues　addressed　to　him。

The　entrance　of　their　Majesties　into　Amsterdam　was　most　brilliant。
The　Empress；　in　a　chariot　drawn　by　splendid　horses；　was　a　few　hours　in
advance　of　the　Emperor；　who　made　his　entry　on　horseback；　surrounded　by
a　brilliant　staff；　glittering　with　gold　and　embroideries；　who　advanced
at　a　slow　pace　amid　shouts　of　admiration　and　astonishment　from　the　good
Hollanders。　　Through　his　simple　and　unaffected　bearing　there　shone　a
profound　satisfaction；　and　perhaps　even　a　natural　sentiment　of　pride；　in
seeing　the　welcome　accorded　to　his　glory　here　as　elsewhere；　and　the
universal　sympathy　aroused　in　the　masses　by　his　presence　alone。　　Drapery
in　three　colors；　which　produced　a　very　fine　effect；　hung　from　posts
erected　at　regular　intervals　and　formed　the　decoration　of　the　streets
through　which　his　Majesty　was　to　pass；　and　he　who　three　years　later　was
to　enter　the　palace　of　the　Tuileries　by　night；　and　as　a　fugitive；　after
having　with　much　difficulty　gained　admission　through　the　gates　of　the
chateau；　passed　then　under　arches　of　triumph；　with　a　glory　yet　unsullied
by　defeat；　and　a　fortune　still　faithful。　　These　reminiscences　are　painful
to　me；　but　they　recur　to　my　mind　even　against　my　will；　for　no　year　of　the
Empire　was　marked　by　more　fetes；　more　triumphant　entries；　or　more　popular
rejoicings；　than　that　which　preceded　the　disastrous　year　of　1812。

Some　of　the　actors　of　the　French　Theater　at　Paris　had　accompanied　the
court　to　Holland；　and　Talma　there　played　the　roles　of　Bayard　and
d'Orosmane；　and　M。　Alissan　de　Chazet　directed　at　Amsterdam　the
performance　by　French　comedians　of　a　vaudeville　in　honor　of　their
Majesties；　the　title　of　which　I　have　forgotten。　　Here；　again；　I　wish　to
refute　another　assertion　no　less　false　made　by　the　author　of　these
'Contemporary　Memoirs'；　concerning　a　fictitious　liaison　between　the
Emperor　and　Mademoiselle　Bourgoin。　　I　cite　the　passage　in　question：
〃Mademoiselle　Bourgoin；　one　of　the　delegates　from　the　court　of　Thalia；
in　order　to　be　permitted　to　accompany　the　party　on　this　journey；　had
thoughtlessly　succumbed　to　the　temptation　of　making　indiscreet
revelations；　even　boasting　aloud　that　she　attracted　the　Emperor　to　the
theater　in　which　she　played；　and　these　boasts；　which　were　by　no　means
virtuous；　having　reached　the　Emperor's　ears；　he　would　no　longer　attend
the　theater。　　He　charged　Talma；　for　whom　he　had　much　consideration；　to
urge　the　pretty　actress　to　be　silent；　and　to　inform　her　that　on　the
slightest　indiscretion　she　would　be　reconducted　to　France　under　good
escort。〃

This　by　no　means　agrees　with　what　his　Majesty　said　one　day　in　regard　to
this　actress　while　at　Erfurt。　　These　words；　which　the　author　of　the
Memoirs　would　do　well　to　recall；　prove　that　the　Emperor　had　no　views　in
regard　to　her；　and　the　most　important　proof　of　all；　is　the　great
discretion　which　the　Emperor　always　exercised　in　regard　to　his　amours。

During　the　entire　passage　through　Holland；　the　Emperor　showed　himself
cordial　and　affable；　welcoming　every　one　most　kindly；　and　accosting　each
in　a　suitable　manner；　and　at　no　time　was　he　ever　more　amiable　or　anxious
to　please。　　He　visited　the　manufactures；　inspected　dock…yards；　reviewed
troops；　addressed　the　sailors；　and　attended　the　ball's　given　in　his　honor
in　all　the　towns　through　which　he　passed；　and　amid　this　life　of　seeming
pleasure　and　distraction；　he　exerted　himself　almost　more　than　in　the
quiet；　monotonous　life　of　the　camp；　and　was　affable；　gracious；　and
accessible　to　all　his　subjects。　　But　in　these　processions；　in　the　very
midst　of　these　fetes；　amid　all　this　acclamation　of　whole　cities　rushing
out　to　meet　him；　eager　to　serve　as　his　escort；　under　these　arches　of
triumph　which　were　erected　to　him　sometimes　even　at　the　entrance　of　an
obscure　village；　his　abstraction　was　deeper　than　ever；　and　his　heart　more
oppressed　with　care；　for　his　thoughts　were　from　this　time　filled　with　the
expedition　to　Russia。　　And　perhaps　into　this　amenity　of　manner；　this
friendliness；　and　these　acts　of　benevolence；　most　of　which　were　foreign
to　his　character；　there　entered　the　design　of　lessening　in　advance　the
discontent　which　this　expedition　would　produce；　and　perhaps　in　attaching
all　hearts　to　himself；　in　exhausting　every　means　of　pleasing；　he　imagined
he　was　obtaining　pardon　in　advance；　by　means　of　the　enthusiasm　of　his
subjects；　for　a　war　which；　whatever　might　be　the　result；　was　to　cost　the
Empire　so　much　blood　and　so　many　tears。

During　their　Majesties'　stay　at　Amsterdam；　there　was　placed　in　the
apartments　of　the　Empress　a　piano　so　constructed　as　to　appear　like　a　desk
with　a　division　in　the　middle；　and　in　this　space　was　placed　a　small　bust
of　the　Emperor　of　Russia。　　Soon　after；　the　Emperor　wished　to　see　if　the
apartments　of　the　Empress　were　suitable；　and　while　visiting　them
perceived　this　bust；　which　he　placed　under　his　arm　without　a　word。
He　afterwards　said　to　one　of　the　ladies　of　the　Empress；　that　he　wished
this　bust　removed；　and　he　was　obeyed；　though　this　caused　considerable
astonishment；　as　it　was　not　then　known　that　any　coolness　had　arisen
between　the　two　Emperors。

A　few　days　after　his　arrival　at　Amsterdam；　the　Emperor　made　several
excursions　into　the　country；　accompanied　by　a　somewhat　numerous　suite。
He　visited　at　Saardam　the　thatched　cottage　which　sheltered　Peter　the
Great　when　he　came　to　Holland　under　the　name　of　Pierre　Michaeloff　to
study　ship…building；　and　after　remaining　there　half　an　hour；　the　Emperor；
as　he　left；　remarked　to　the　grand　marshal　of　the　palace。　　〃That　is　the
finest　monument　in　Holland。〃　　The　evening　before；　her　Majesty　the　Empress
had　visited　the　village　of　Broek；　which　is　the　pride　of　the　whole　north
of　Holland。　　Almost　all　the　houses　of　the　village　are　built　of　wood；　and
are　of　one　story；　the　fronts　ornamented　with　numerous　paintings　in
accordance　with　the　caprice　of　the　owners。　　These　paintings　are　cared　for
most　zealously；　and　preserved　in　a　state　of　perfect　freshness。　　Through
the　windows　of　clearest　glass　are　seen　curtains　of　embroidered　China
silk；　and　of　painted　muslin　and　beautiful　India　stuffs。　　The　streets　are
paved　with　brick　and　very　clean；　and　are　washed　and　rubbed　daily；　and
covered　with　fine　white　sand；　in　which　various　figures　are　imitated；
especially　flowers。　　Placards　at　the　end　of　each　street　forbid　the
entrance　of　carriages　into　the　village；　the　houses　of　which　resemble
children's　toys。　　The　cattle　are　cared　for　by　hirelings　at　some　distance
from　the　town；　and　there　is；　outside　the　village；　an　inn　for　strangers；
for　they　are　not　permitted　to　lodge　inside。　　In　front　of　some　houses　I
remarked　either　a　grass　plot　or　an　arrangement　of　colored　sand　and
shells；　sometimes　little　painted　wooden　statues；　sometimes　hedges　oddly
cut。　　Even　the　vessels　and　broom…handles　were　painted　various　colors；　and
cared　for　like　the　remainder　of　the　establishment；　the　inhabitants
carrying　their　love　of　cleanliness　so　far　as　to　compel　those　who　entered
to　take　off　their　shoes；　and　replace　them　with　slippers；　which　stood　at
the　door　for　this　singular　purpose。　　I　am　reminded　on　this　subject　of　an
anecdote　relating　to　the　Emperor　Joseph　the　Second。　　That　prince；　having
presented　himself　in　boots　at　the　door　of　a　house　in　Broek；　and　being
requested　to　remove　them　before　entering；　exclaimed；　〃I　am　the　Emperor！〃
〃Even　if　you　were　the　burgomaster　of　Amsterdam；　you　should　not　enter　in
boots；〃　replied　the　master　of　the　dwelling。　　The　good　Emperor　thereupon
put　on　the　slippers。

During　the　journey　to　Holland　their　Majesties　were　informed　that　the
first　tooth　of　the　King　of　Rome　had　just　made　its　appearance；　and　that
the　health　of　this　august　child　was　not　impaired　thereby。

In　one　of　the　little　towns　in　the　north　of　Holland；　the　authorities
requested　the　Emperor's　permission　to　present　to　him　an　old　man　aged　one
hundred　and　one　years；　and　he　ordered　him　brought　before　him。　　This　more
than　centenarian　was　still　vigorous；　and　had　served　formerly　in　the
guards　of　the　Stadtholder；　he　presented　a　petition　entreating　the　Emperor
to　exempt　from　conscription　one　of　his　grandsons；　the　support　of　his　old
age。　　His　Majesty　assured　him；　through　an　interpreter；　that　he　would　not
deprive　him　of　his　grandson；　and　Marshal　Duroc　was　ordered　to　leave　with
the　old　man　a　testimonial　of　Imperial　liberality。　　In　another　little　town
in　Friesland；　the　authorities　made　the　Emperor　this　singular　address：