louisa of prussia and her times-第114部分

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province；　and　to　defraud　us　of　our　honor；　our　good　rights；　and
independence。　What　have　you　done；　that　all　honest　men　should　turn
away　from　you？　You　have　broken　your　most　sacred　oathsyou　are　a
perjurer！〃

〃Oh；　that　goes　too　far；〃　cried　Napoleon；　passionately。　〃What　hinders
me；　then〃

〃To　have　me　arrested？〃　Marianne　interrupted　him；　defiantly〃please
do　so。〃

〃No；　I　shall　not　do　you　that　favor。　Proceed；　proceed！　You　stand
before　me　as　though　you　were　Germania　herself　rising　before　me　to
accuse　me。　Well；　then；　accuse　me。　When　have　I　broken　my　oaths？〃

〃From　the　moment　when　you　raised　the　banner　in　the　name　of　the
republic　which　you　intended　to　upset；　from　the　moment　when　you
called　the　nations　to　you　in　the　name　of　liberty；　in　order　to　rule
over　them　as　their　tyrant　and　oppressor！〃

〃To　those　who　wanted　to　keep　up　the　despotism　of　liberty　under　which
France　had　bled　and　groaned　so　long；　I　was　a　tyrant；〃　said　Napoleon；
calmly；　〃to　those　who　entertained　the　senseless　idea　of　restoring
the　Bourbons；　under　whom　France　had　bled　and　groaned　as　long　and
longer；　I　was　an　oppressor。　The　family　of　the　Bourbons　has　become
decrepit；　it　resembles　a　squeezed　lemon；　the　peel　of　which　is　thrown
contemptuously　aside；　because　there　is　no　longer　any　juice　in　it。
Did　you　really　believe　I　should　have　been　such　a　fool　as　to　pick　up
this　empty　peel；　which　France　had　thrown　aside；　and　to　clothe　it　in
a　purple　cloak　and　crown？　Did　you　believe　I　had；　like　those　Bourbons
and　all　legitimate　princes；　learned　nothing　from　history；　and　not
been　taught　by　the　examples　it　holds　up　to　all　those　who　have　eyes
to　see　with？　I　have　learned　from　history　that　dynasties　dry　up　like
trees；　and　that　it　is　better　to　uproot　the　hollow；　withered…up　trunk
rather　than　permit　it；　in　its　long　decay；　to　suck　up　the　last
nourishing　strength　from　the　soil　on　which　it　stands。〃

〃Sire；　you　do　not　only　uproot　the　decaying　trunk；　but　with　the　axe
of　the　tyrant　you　deprived　this　trunk　of　its　fresh；　green　branches
also；〃　exclaimed　Marianne。

〃Ah；　you　refer　to　the　Duke　d'Enghien；〃　said　Napoleon；　quietly。　〃It
was　an　act　of　policy；　which　I　do　not　regret。　The　Bourbons　had　to
understand　at　length　that　France　wanted　to　give　them　up　and　create　a
new　era　for　herself。　I　stood　at　the　head　of　this　new　era；　and　I　had
to　fill　in　a　becoming　manner　the　position　Providence　had　conferred
on　me。　Providence　destined　me　to　become　the　founder　of　a　new
dynasty；　and　there　will　be　a　day　when　my　family　will　occupy　the
first　thrones　of　the　world。〃　＇Footnote：　Napoleon's　own　words。Vide
〃Le　Normand；〃　vol。　ii。；　p。　29。＇

〃That　is　to　say；　you　declare　war　against　all　princes；〃　exclaimed
Marianne。

〃Against　the　princes；　yes；〃　said　Napoleon；　〃for　they　are　nothing　but
over…ripe　fruits　only　waiting　for　the　hand　that　is　to　shake　them
off。　I　shall　be　this　hand；　and　before　me　they　will　fall　to　the
ground；　and　I　shall　rise　higher　and　higher　above　them。　You　call　me　a
conqueror；　but　how　could　I　stop　now　in　my　work？　If　I　should　pause
now　in　my　conquests　and　sheathe　my　sword；　what　should　I　have　gained
by　so　many　efforts　but　a　little　glory；　without　having　approached　the
goal　to　which　I　was　aspiring？　What　should　I　have　gained　by　setting
all　Europe　in　a　blaze　if　I　should　be　contented　with　having
overthrown　empires　and　not　hasten　to　build　up　MY　OWN　empire　on　solid
foundations？　It　is　not　birth　that　entitles　me　to　immortality。　The
man　who　is　possessed　of　courage；　who　does　good　service　to　his
country；　and　renders　himself　illustrious　by　great　exploits；　that　man
needs　no　pedigree；　for　he　is　everything　by　himself。〃＇Footnote：
Napoleon's　own　words。Vide　〃Le　Normand。〃　vol。　ii。；　p。　49。＇

〃But　in　the　eyes　of　the　legitimists　he　is　always　nothing　but　an
upstart；〃　said　Marianne；　shrugging　her　shoulders。

〃In　that　case　he　must　overthrow　and　annihilate　all　legitimists；〃
said　Napoleon；　quickly；　〃so　that　a　new　dynasty　may　arise；　of　which
he　will　be　the　founder。　I　am　the　man　of　Destiny；　and　shall　found　a
new　dynasty；　and　one　day　the　whole　of　Europe　will　be　but　one　empire；
MY　empire！　All　of　you；　instead　of　cursing　me；　should　joyfully　hail
my　coming　and　welcome　me　as　your　liberator　sent　by　Providence　to
raise　you　from　your　degradation　and　disgrace。　Just　look　around；　you
Germans；　and　see　what　sort　of　princes　and　governments　you　have　got。
Are　you　being　ruled　by　noble；　high…minded　sovereigns；　are　men　of
ability　and　character　at　the　head　of　your　governments？　I　only　behold
impotence；　infamy；　and　venality　everywhere　in　the　German　cabinets。
The　system　of　nepotism　is　everywhere　in　force；　offices　are　gifts　of
favor；　and　not　rewards　of　merit；　intrigues　and　corrupt　influences
succeed　in　placing　the　foremost　positions　of　the　state　into　the
hands　of　incapable　men；　and　great　minds；　if　there　be　any　at　all；　are
utterly　ignored。　The　result　of　this　system　is；　of　course；　that　men
cease　cultivating　their　minds；　and　that　the　virtues　and　talents
which　are　not　rewarded　with　a　just　tribute　of　glory；　lose　their
vigor　and　enthusiasm；　nay；　often　their　very　existence。　When　a　nation
sees　none　but　incapable　favorites　and　venal　intriguers　at　the　head
of　the　various　departments　of　its　administration　and　of　its　armies；
how　is　it　to　prosper　and　expand；　to　increase　its　wealth；　and　to　win
victories！　Woe　to　the　nation　which　allows　itself　to　be　governed　by
such　ministers；　and　to　be　defended　by　such　generals　as　I　have　found
everywhere　in　Germany！　As　the　man　of　Destiny；　I　have　come　to　devote
to　her　my　hand；　my　mouth；　and　my　heart　for　the　purpose　of　liberating
her　and　delivering　her　from　her　disgraceful　chains。〃　＇Footnote：
Ibid。；　p。　29。＇

〃And　to　load　her　with　even　more　disgraceful　ones；〃　exclaimed
Marianne；　her　eyes　naming　with　anger；　〃for　there　is　nothing　more
disgraceful　on　earth　than　a　nation　submitting　to　a　foreign　barbarian
and　humbly　kissing　the　feet　of　its　oppressor；　instead　of　expelling
him　by　the　majesty　of　its　wrath。　If　you；　a　modern　Attila；　go　on　with
your　murderous　sword；　Europe　is　ruined；　and　all　dignity　of　the
nations；　all　the　centres　of　scientific　eminence；　all　the　hopes　of
humanity　are　lost。　For　nations　can　only　perform　great　things；　and
create　great　things；　when　they　are　independent；　and　freedom　itself
is　of　no　use　to　them　if　they　must　receive　it　as　a　favor　at　the　hands
of　their　conqueror。〃

〃Earth　ought　to　have　but　one　ruler；　as　heaven　has　but　one　God；〃　said
Napoleon；　solemnly。　〃I　have　only　begun　my　task；　it　is　not　yet
accomplished。　Hitherto　I　have　subjected　only　France；　Italy；
Switzerland；　and　Holland　to　my　sceptre；　but　my　goal　is　even　more
sublime　than　that。　And　who　will　prevent　me　from　seizing　Westphalia；
the　Hanseatic　cities；　and　Rome；　and　from　annexing　the　Illyrian
provinces；　Etruria；　and　Portugal　to　France？　I　do　not　know　yet　where
to　fix　the　boundaries　of　my　empire。　Perhaps　it　will　have　no　other
boundaries　than　the　vast　space　of　the　two　hemispheres；　perhaps；　like
Americus　Vespucius　and　Columbus；　I　shall　obtain　the　glory　of
discovering　and　conquering　another　unknown　world！〃＇Footnote：
Napoleon's　own　words。　〃Le　Normand；　Memoires；〃　vol。　ii。；　p。　69。＇

〃And　if　you　should　discover　a　third　world；〃　exclaimed　Marianne；　〃God
may　decree；　perhaps；　that　in　this　new　world；　an　avenger　of　the　two
old　worlds　may　arise　and　tell　you　in　the　thundering　voice　of
Jehovah：　'Here　are　the　boundaries　of　your　empire！　So　far　and　no
farther！'〃

〃But　I　should　not　shrink　back；〃　said　Napoleon；　smiling；　〃but　advance
to　fight　for　my　good　right　with　the　avenger　sent　by　Providence；　for
I　was　also　sent　by　Providence；　I　am　a　chosen　son　of　Heaven；　and　if
there　is　a　misfortune　for　me；　it　is　that　I　have　come　too　late。　Men
are　too　enlightened　or　too　sober；　hence；　it　is　impossible　to
accomplish　great　things。〃

〃Ah；　you　say　so；〃　exclaimed　Marianne；　〃you；　whose　fate　is　so
brilliant　and　exalted？　You；　who　once　were　a　humble　officer　of
artillery；　and　now　are　seated　as　emperor　on　a　mighty　throne？〃

〃Yes；〃　said　Napoleon；　in　a　low　voice；　as　if　to　himself；　〃I　admit；　my
career　was　brilliant　enough；I　have　pursued　a　splendid　path！　But
how　much　difference　there　is　between　me　and　the　heroes　of　antiquity！
How　much　more　fortunate　was　Alexander！　After　conquering　Asia；　he
declared　he　was　the　son　of　Jove；　and　the　whole　Orient　believed　it；
except　Olympias；　who　knew　very　well　what　to　think　of　it；　and　except
Aristotle；　and　a　few　other　pedants　of　Athens！　But　if　I；　who　have
made　more　conquests　and　won　greater　victories　than　Alexander；if　I
should　declare　to…day　I　were　the　son　of　God；　and　offer　Him　my
thanksgiving　under　this　title；　there　would　be　no　fishwoman　that
would　not　laugh　at　me。　The　nations　are　too　enlightened　and　too
sober；　it　is　impossible　to　accomplish　great　things。〃＇Footnote：
Napoleon's　own　words。Vide　〃Memoires　du　Marechal　Duc　de　Raguse；〃
vol。　ii。；　p。　243。＇　　〃There　will　be　a　day；　sire；　when　the　nations
will　rise　and　prove　to　you　that　they　are　able　to　accomplish　great
things！〃

〃And　on　that　day　they　will　trample　me　in　the　dust；　I　suppose？〃　asked
Napoleon；　with　an　almost　compassionate　smile。　〃Do　not　hope　too
sanguinely　for　this　day；　for　your　hopes　might　deceive　you。　I　have
spoken　so　freely　and　frankly　to　you；〃　he　continued；　rising；　〃because
I　knew　that；　by　speaking　to　you；　I　was　speaking；　through　you；　to　the
most　eminent；　high…minded；　and　patriotic　men　of　your　nation；　and
because　I　wished　to　be　comprehended　and　appreciated　by　them。　Go；
then；　and　repeat　my　words　to　themrepeat　them　to　those；　too；　who
believe　that　the　throne　which　I　have　erected　belongs　to　THEM；　and
that　the　tri…colored　flag　would　have　to　disappear　one　day　before　the
lilies。　Go；　madame；　and　tell　those　enthusiastic　Bourbons　the　lilies
were　so　dreadfully　steeped　in　the　misery　and　blood　of　France　that
nobody　would　recognize　them　there；　and　that　everybody　was　shrinking
back　from　their　cadaverous　smell　and　putridity。　Empires　and
dynasties；　like　flowers；　have　but　one　day　of　bloom；　the　day　of　the
Bourbons　is　past；　they　are　faded　and　stripped　of　their　leaves。　State
it　to　those　who　one　day　sent　you　CERTAINLY　to　me；　and　PERHAPS　again
to…day。　If　you　relate　to　them　to…day's　scene；　they　may　deplore；
perhaps；　that　fate　did　not　permit　you　to　become　a　Judith；　but　they
will　have　to　acknowledge　at　least　that　I　am　no　Holofernes