napoleon bonaparte, v9-第7部分

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of　his　charges。　　This　charming　person　was　so　young　that　her　parents
preferred　that　the　marriage　should　not　take　place　until　he　returned　from
the　campaign；　being　influenced　in　this　decision　by　the　fate　of　Prince
Aldobrandini　after　his　marriage　with　Mademoiselle　de　la　Rochefoucault
before　the　campaign　of　Wagram。　　General　Auguste　de　Caulaincourt　was
killed　in　a　redoubt　to　which　he　had　led　the　cuirassiers　of　General
Montbrun；　who　had　just　been　fatally　wounded　by　a　cannon…ball　in　the
attack　on　this　same　redoubt。

The　Emperor　often　said；　in　speaking　of　generals　killed　in　the　army；
〃Such　an　one　is　happy　in　having　died　on　the　field　of　honor；　while　I　shall
perhaps　be　so　unfortunate　as　to　die　in　my　bed。〃　　He　was　less
philosophical　on　the　occasion　of　Marshal　Lannes's　death；　when　I　saw　him；
while　at　breakfast；　weeping　such　large　tears　that　they　rolled　over　his
cheeks；　and　fell　into　his　plate。　　He　mourned　deeply　for　Desaix；
Poniatowski；　and　Bessieres；　but　most　of　all　for　Lannes；　and　next　to　him
Duroc。

During　the　whole　of　the　battle　of　the　Moskwa　the　Emperor　had　attacks
resembling　stone　in　the　bladder。　　He　had　been　often　threatened　with　this
disease　unless　he　was　more　prudent　in　his　diet；　and　suffered　much；
although　he　complained　little；　and　only　when　attacked　by　violent　pain
uttered　stifled　groans。　　Now；　nothing　causes　more　anxiety　than　to　hear
those　complain　who　are　unaccustomed　to　do　so；　for　then　one　imagines　the
suffering　most　intense；　since　it　is　stronger　than　a　strong　man。　　At
Austerlitz　the　Emperor　said；　〃Ordener　　is　worn　out。　　There　is　only　one
time　for　military　achievement　in　a　man's　life。　　I　shall　be　good　for　six
years　longer；　and　after　that　I　shall　retire。〃

The　Emperor　rode　over　the　field　of　battle；　which　presented　a　horrible
spectacle；　nearly　all　the　dead　being　covered　with　wounds；　which　proved
with　what　bitterness　the　battle　had　been　waged。　　The　weather　was　very
inclement；　and　rain　was　falling；　accompanied　by　a　very　high　wind。　　Poor
wounded　creatures；　who　had　not　yet　been　removed　to　the　ambulances；　half
rose　from　the　ground　in　their　desire　not　to　be　overlooked　and　to　receive
aid；　while　some　among　them　still　cried；　Vive　l'Empereur！〃　in　spite　of
their　suffering　and　exhaustion。　　Those　of　our　soldiers　who　had　been
killed　by　Russian　balls　showed　on　their　corpses　deep　and　broad　wounds；
for　the　Russian　balls　were　much　larger　than　ours。　　We　saw　a　color…bearer；
wrapped　in　his　banner　as　a　winding…sheet；　who　seemed　to　give　signs　of
life；　but　he　expired　in　the　shock　of　being　raised。　　The　Emperor　walked
on　and　said　nothing；　though　many　times　when　he　passed　by　the　most
mutilated；　he　put　his　hand　over　his　eyes　to　avoid　the　sight。　　This　calm
lasted　only　a　short　while；　for　there　was　a　place　on　the　battlefield　where
French　and　Russians　had　fallen　pell…mell；　almost　all　of　whom　were　wounded
more　or　less　grievously。　　And　when　the　Emperor　heard　their　cries；　he
became　enraged；　and　shouted　at　those　who　had　charge　of　removing　the
wounded；　much　irritated　by　the　slowness　with　which　this　was　done。　　It　was
difficult　to　prevent　the　horses　from　trampling　on　the　corpses；　so　thickly
did　they　lie。　　A　wounded　soldier　was　struck　by　the　shoe　of　a　horse　in　the
Emperor's　suite；　and　uttered　a　heartrending　cry；　upon　which　the　Emperor
quickly　turned；　and　inquired　in　a　most　vehement　manner　who　was　the
awkward　person　by　whom　the　man　was　hurt。　　He　was　told；　thinking　that　it
would　calm　his　anger；　that　the　man　was　nothing　but　a　Russian。　　〃Russian
or　French；〃　he　exclaimed；　〃I　wish　every　one　removed！〃

Poor　young　fellows　who　were　making　their　first　campaign；　being　wounded　to
the　death；　lost　courage；　and　wept　like　children　crying　for　their　mothers。
The　terrible　picture　will　be　forever　engraven　on　my　memory。

The　Emperor　urgently　repeated　his　orders　for　removing　the　wounded
quickly；　then　turned　his　horse　in　silence；　and　returned　to　his
headquarters；　the　evening　being　now　far　advanced。　　I　passed　the　night
near　him；　and　his　sleep　was　much　disturbed；　or；　rather；　he　did　not　sleep
at　all；　and　repeated　over　and　over；　restlessly　turning　on　his　pillow；
〃Poor　Caulaincourt！　　What　a　day！　　What　a　day！〃




CHAPTER　IV。

As　I　have　announced　previously；　I　shall　endeavor　to　record　in　this
chapter　some　recollections　of　events　personal　to　the　Emperor　which
occurred　during　the　journey　between　the　frontiers　of　France　and　Prussia。
How　sad　a　contrast　results；　alas！　as　we　attempt　to　compare　our　journey　to
Moscow　with　that　of　our　return。　　One　must　have　seen　Napoleon　at　Dresden；
surrounded　by　a　court　of　princes　and　of　kings；　to　form　an　idea　of　the
highest　point　which　human　greatness　can　reach。　　There　more　than　ever
elsewhere　the　Emperor　was　affable　to　all；　fortune　smiled　upon　him；
and　none　of　those　who　enjoyed　with　us　the　spectacle　of　his　glory　could
even　conceive　the　thought　that　fortune　could　soon　prove　unfaithful　to　him
and　in　so　striking　a　manner。　　I　remember；　among　other　particulars　of　our
stay　at　Dresden；　a　speech　I　heard　the　Emperor　make　to　Marshal　Berthier；
whom　he　had　summoned　at　a　very　early　hour。　　When　the　marshal　arrived；
Napoleon　had　not　yet　risen；　but　I　received　orders　to　bring　him　in　at
once；　so　that　while　dressing　the　Emperor；　I　heard　between　him　and　his
major…general　a　conversation　of　which　I　wish　I　could　remember　the　whole；
but　at　least　I　am　sure　of　repeating　correctly　one　thought　which　struck
me。　　The　Emperor　said　in　nearly　these　words：

〃I　wish　no　harm　to　Alexander；　it　is　not　on　Russia　that　I　am　making　war；
no　more　than　on　Spain；　I　have　only　one　enemy；England；　and　it　is　her　I
am　striving　to　reach　in　Russia；　I　will　pursue　her　everywhere。〃　　During
this　speech　the　marshal　bit　his　nails；　as　was　his　constant　habit。　　On
that　day　a　magnificent　review　was　held；　at　which　all　the　princes　of　the
Confederation　were　present；　surrounding　their　chief　as　great　vassals　of
his　crown。

When　the　various　army…corps　marshaled　from　the　other　side　of　the　Elbe　had
advanced　to　the　confines　of　Poland；　we　left　Dresden；　meeting　everywhere
the　same　enthusiasm　on　the　advent　of　the　Emperor。　　We　were　as　a　result
sumptuously　entertained　in　every　place　at　which　we　halted；　so　anxious
were　the　inhabitants　to　testify　their　regard　for　his　Majesty；　even　in　the
person　of　those　who　had　the　honor　of　serving　him。

At　this　time　there　was　a　general　rumor　in　the　army；　and　among　the　persons
of　the　Emperor's　household；　that　his　intention　was　to　re…establish　the
kingdom　of　Poland。　　Ignorant　as　I　was；　and　from　my　position　should
naturally　be；　of　all　political　matters；　I　heard　no　less　than　others　the
expression　of　an　opinion　which　was　universal；　and　which　was　discussed
openly　by　all。　　Sometimes　the　Emperor　condescended　to　ask　me　what　I
heard；　and　always　smiled　at　my　report；　since　I　could　not　tell　the　truth
and　say　anything　that　would　have　been　disagreeable　to　him；　for　he　was
then；　and　I　do　not　speak　too　strongly；　universally　adored　by　the　Polish
population。

On　the　23d　of　June　we　were　on　the　banks　of　the　Niemen；　that　river　already
become　so　famous　by　the　interview　between　the　two　Emperors；　under
circumstances　very　different　from　those　in　which　they　now　found
themselves。

The　passage　of　the　army　began　in　the　evening；　and　lasted　for　forty…eight
hours；　during　which　time　the　Emperor　was　almost　constantly　on　horseback；
so　well　he　knew　that　his　presence　expedited　matters。　　Then　we　continued
our　journey　to　Wilna；　the　capital　of　the　Grand　Duchy　of　Lithuania；　and　on
the　27th　arrived　in　front　of　this　town；　occupied　by　the　Russians；　and　it
may　truly　be　said　that　there；　and　there　alone；　military　operations　began；
for　up　to　this　time　the　Emperor　had　traveled　as　he　would　have　done　in　the
departments　of　the　interior　of　France。　　The　Russians；　being　attacked；
were　beaten　and　fell　back；　so　that　two　days　after　we　entered　Wilna；　a
town　of　considerable　size；　which　seemed　to　me　to　contain　about　thirty
thousand　inhabitants。　　I　was　struck　with　the　incredible　number　of
convents　and　churches　which　are　there。　　At　Wilna　the　Emperor　was　much
gratified　by　the　demand　of　five　or　six　hundred　students　that　they　should
be　formed　into　a　regiment。　　It　is　needless　to　say　that　such　solicitations
were　always　eagerly　granted　by　his　Majesty。

We　rested　for　some　time　at　Wilna；　the　Emperor　thence　followed　the
movement　of　his　armies；　and　occupied　himself　also　with　organizing　the
Grand　Duchy　of　Lithuania；　of　which　this　town；　as　is　well　known；　is　the
capital。　　As　the　Emperor　was　often　on　horseback；　I　had　sufficient　leisure
to　acquaint　myself　thoroughly　with　the　town　and　its　environs。　　The
Lithuanians　were　in　a　state　of　enthusiasm　impossible　to　describe；　and
although　I　have　seen　during　my　life　many　fetes；　I　shall　never　forget　the
joyous　excitement　of　the　whole　population　when　the　grand　national　fete　of
the　regeneration　of　Poland　was　celebrated；　which　owing　either　to　a
singular　coincidence；　or　the　calculation　of　the　Emperor；　was　appointed
for　the　14th　of　July。　　The　Poles　were　still　uncertain　as　to　the　ultimate
fate　which　the　Emperor　reserved　for　their　country；　but　a　future　bright
with　hope　shone　before　their　eyes；　until　these　visions　were　rudely
dispelled　by　the　Emperor's　reply　to　the　deputation　from　the　Polish
confederation　established　at　Warsaw。　　This　numerous　deputation；　with　a
count　palatine　at　its　head；　demanded　the　integral　re…establishment　of　the
ancient　kingdom　of　Poland。　　This　was　the　Emperor's　reply：

〃Messieurs；　deputies　of　the　Confederation　of　Poland；　I　have　heard　with
interest　what　you　have　just　said。　　Were　I　a　Pole；　I　should　think　and　act
as　you　have　done；　and　I　should　have　voted　like　you　in　the　assembly　at
Warsaw；　for　love　of　country　is　the　first　virtue　of　civilized　man。

In　my　position　I　have　many　opposing　interests　to　reconcile；　and　many
duties　to　fulfill。　　If　I　had　reigned　at　the　time　of　the　first；　second；
or　third　division　of　Poland；　I　would　have　armed　all　my　people　to　sustain
you。　　As　soon　as　victory　permitted　me　to　restore　your　ancient　laws　to
your　capital　and　to　a　part　of　your　provinces；　I　have　done　so　readily；
without；　however；　prolonging　a　war　which　would　have　shed　the　blood　of　my
subjects。

I　love　your　nation。　　For　sixteen　years　I　have　seen　your　soldiers　by　my
side　on　the　fields　of　Italy　as　on　those　of　S