louisa of prussia and her times-第43部分

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〃Hush；　Bonaparte；　for　God's　sake；　hush！〃　said　Josephine；　anxiously。
〃Let　no　one　here　suspect　your　plans；　for　we　are　surrounded　in　this
house　by　austere　and　rabid　republicans；　who；　if　they　had　heard　your
words；　would　arraign　you　as　a　criminal　before　the　Directory。　Intrust
your　plans　to　no　one　except　myself；　Bonaparte。　Before　the　world
remain　as　yet　a　most　enthusiastic　republican；　and　only　when　the
decisive　hour　has　come；　throw　off　your　tunic　and　exhibit　your　royal
uniform！〃

Bonaparte　smiled；　and　encircled　her　neck　with　his　arms。

〃Yes；　you　are　right；〃　he　said；　〃we　must　be　taciturn。　We　must　bury
our　most　secret　thoughts　in　the　deepest　recesses　of　our　souls；　and
intrust　them　to　no　one；　not　even　to　the　beloved。　But　come；
Josephine；　I　owe　you　my　thanks　yet　for　the　joyful　tidings　you　have
brought　me。　You　must　permit　me　to　make　you　a　few　little　presents　in
return。〃

〃Give　me　your　confidence；　and　I　am　abundantly　rewarded；〃　said
Josephine；　tenderly。

〃Henceforth　I　shall　never；　never　distrust　you；〃　he　replied；
affectionately。　〃We　belong　to　each　other；　and　no　power　of　earth　or
heaven　is　able　to　separate　us。　You　are　mine　and　I　am　thine；　and　what
is　mine　being　thine；　you　must　permit　me　to　give　you　a　trinket　sent
to　me　to…day　by　the　city　of　Milan。〃

〃A　trinket？〃　exclaimed　Josephine；　with　radiant　eyes；　〃let　me　see　it。
Is　it　a　beautiful　one？〃

Bonaparte　smiled。　〃Yes；　beautiful　in　the　eyes　of　those　to　whom　glory
seems　more　precious　than　diamonds　and　pearls；〃　he　said；　stepping　to
the　table　from　which　he　took　a　small　morocco　casket。　〃See；〃　he　said；
opening　it；　〃it　is　a　gold　medal　which　the　city　of　Milan　has　caused
to　be　struck　in　my　honor；　and　on　which　it　confers　upon　me　the　title
of　'The　Italian。'〃

〃Give　it　to　me；〃　exclaimed　Josephine；　joyfully〃give　it　to　me；　my
'Italian！'　Let　me　wear　this　precious　trinket　which　public　favor　has
bestowed　upon　you。〃

〃Public　favor；〃　he　said；　musingly〃public　favor；　it　is　light　as
zephyr；　as　fickle　as　the　seasons；　it　passes　away　like　the　latter；
and　when　the　north　wind　moves　it；　it　will　disappear。〃　＇Footnote：　Le
Normand；　vol。　i。；　p。　261。＇

He　was　silent；　but　proceeded　after　a　short　pause　in　a　less　excited
manner。

〃As　to　my　deeds；〃　he　said；　〃the　pen　of　history　will　trace　them　for
our　grandchildren。　Either　I　shall　have　lived　for　a　century；　or　I
shall　earn　for　all　my　great　exploits　nothing　but　silence　and
oblivion。　Who　is　able　to　calculate　the　whims　and　predilections　of
history？〃　＇Footnote：　Ibid。；　vol。　i；　p。　262。＇

He　paused　again；　and　became　absorbed　in　his　reflections。

Josephine　did　not　venture　to　arouse　him　from　his　musing。　She　fixed
her　eyes　upon　the　large　gold　medal；　and　tried　to　decipher　the
inscription。

Bonaparte　suddenly　raised　his　head　again；　and　turned　his　gloomy　eyes
toward　Josephine。　〃I　suppose　you　know；〃　he　said；　〃that　I　have　always
greatly　distinguished　the　Duke　of　Litalba　among　all　Milanese；　and
that　I　have　openly　courted　his　friendship？〃

〃You　have　always　manifested　the　greatest　kindness　for　him；〃　said
Josephine；　〃and　he　is　gratefully　devoted　to　you　for　what　you　have
done　for　him。〃

〃Gratefully！〃　exclaimed　Bonaparte；　sarcastically。　〃There　is　no
gratitude　on　earth；　and　the　Duke　of　Litalba　is　as　ungrateful　as　the
rest　of　mankind。　I　called　him　my　friend。　Do　you　know　how　he　has　paid
me　for　it；　and　what　he　has　said　of　me　behind　my　back？〃

〃Oh；　then；　they　have　told　you　libels　and　made　you　angry　again　by
repeating　to　you　the　gossip　of　idle　tongues？〃

〃They　shall　tell　me　every　thingI　want　to　know　every　thing！〃
retorted　Bonaparte；　violently。　〃I　must　know　my　friends　and　my
enemies。　And　I　believed　Litalba　to　be　my　friend；　I　believed　him　when
he　told　me；　with　tears　in　his　eyes；　how　much　he　was　afflicted　by　my
departure；　and　how　devotedly　he　loved　me。　I　believed　him；　and　on　the
same　day　he　said　at　a　public　casino；　'Now　at　last　our　city　will　get
rid　of　this　meteor　that　is　able　all　alone　to　set　fire　to　the　whole
of　Europe；　and　to　spread　the　sparks　of　its　revolutionary　fire　to　the
most　remote　corners　of　the　world。'　＇Footnote：　Ibid。；　vol。　I。；　p。
362。＇　He　dared　to　call　me　a　meteor；　a　shining　nothing　which　after
lighting　up　the　sky　for　a　short　while　explodes　and　dissolves　itself
into　vapor。　I　shall　prove　to　him　and　to　the　whole　world　that　I　am
more　than　that；　and　if　I　kindle　a　fire　in　Europe；　it　shall　be　large
enough　to　burn　every　enemy　of　mine。〃

〃Your　glory　is　the　fire　that　will　consume　your　enemies；〃　said
Josephine；　eagerly。　〃You　will　not　reply　to　their　calumniesyour
deeds　will　speak　for　themselves。　Do　not　heed　the　voice　of　slander；
my　Italian；　listen　only　to　the　voice　of　your　glory。　It　will　march
before　you　to　France　like　a　herald；　it　will　fill　all　hearts　with
enthusiasm；　and　all　hearts　will　hail　your　arrival　with　rapturous
applauseyou；　the　victorious　chieftain；　the　conqueror　of　Italy！〃

〃I　will　show　you　the　herald　I　am　going　to　send　to…day　to　France；　to
be　presented　there　in　my　name　by　General　Joubert　to　the　Directory；〃
replied　Bonaparte。　〃It　is　a　herald　whose　mute　language　will　be　even
more　eloquent　than　all　the　hymns　of　victory　with　which　they　may
receive　me。　Wait　here　for　a　moment。　I　shall　be　back　directly。〃

He　waved　his　hand　to　her　and　hastily　left　the　room。　Josephine's　eyes
followed　him　with　an　expression　of　tender　admiration。　〃What　a　bold
mind；　what　a　fiery　heart！〃　she　said；　in　a　low　voice。　〃Who　will　stem
the　bold　flight　of　this　mind；　who　will　extinguish　the　flames　of　this
heart？　Who〃

The　door　opened；　and　Bonaparte　returned；　followed　by　several　footmen
carrying　a　rolled…up　banner。　When　they　had　reached　the　middle　of　the
room；　he　took　it　from　them　and　told　them　to　withdraw。　As　soon　as　the
door　had　closed　behind　them；　he　rapidly　unrolled　the　banner　so　that
it　floated　majestically　over　his　head。

〃Ah；　that　is　the　proud　victor　of　the　bridge　of　Arcole！〃　exclaimed
Josephine；　enthusiastically。　〃Thus　you　must　have　looked　when　you
headed　the　column；　rushing　into　the　hail　of　balls　and　bullets；　and
bearing　the　colors　aloft　in　your　right　hand！　Oh；　Bonaparte；　how
glorious　you　look　under　your　glorious　banner！〃

〃Do　not　look　at　me；　but　look　at　the　banner；〃　he　said。　〃Future
generations　may　some　day　take　it　for　a　monument　from　the　fabulous
times　of　antiquity；　and　yet　this　monument　contains　nothing　but　the
truth。　The　Directory　shall　hang　up　this　banner　in　its　hall；　and　if
it　should　try　to　deny　or　belittle　my　deeds；　I　shall　point　at　the
banner　which　will　tell　every　one　what　has　been　accomplished　in　Italy
by　the　French　army　and　its　general。〃

Josephine　looked　in　silent　admiration　at　the　splendid　banner。　It　was
made　of　the　heaviest　white　satin；　trimmed　with　a　broad　border　of
blue　and　white。　Large　eagles；　embroidered　in　gold；　and　decorated
with　precious　stones；　filled　the　corners　on　both　sides；　warlike
emblems；　executed　by　the　most　skilful　painters；　filled　the　inside　of
the　colored　border；　and　inscriptions　in　large　gold　letters　covered
the　centre。

〃Read　these　inscriptions；　Josephine；〃　said　Bonaparte　imperiously；
pointing　at　them　with　his　uplifted　arm。　〃It　is　a　simple　and　short
history　of　our　campaign　in　Italy。　Read　aloud；　Josephine；　let　me　hear
from　your　lips　the　triumphal　hymn　of　my　army！〃

Josephine　seized　the　gold　cord　hanging　down　from　the　banner　and　thus
kept　it　straight。　Bonaparte；　proudly　leaning　against　the　gilt　flag…
staff；　which　he　grasped　with　both　hands；　listened　smiling　and　with
flashing　eyes　to　Josephine；　who　read　as　follows：

〃One　hundred　and　fifty　thousand　prisoners；　one　hundred　and　seventy
stands　of　colors；　five　hundred　and　fifty　siege…guns；　six　hundred
field…pieces；　five　pontoon　parks；　nine　line…of…battle　ships；　of
sixty…four　guns；　twelve　frigates　of　thirty…two　guns；　twelve
corvettes；　eighteen　galleys；　armistice　with　the　King　of　Sardinia；
treaty　with　Genoa；　armistice　with　the　Duke　of　Parma；　armistice　with
the　King　of　Naples；　armistice　with　the　Pope；　preliminaries　of
Leoben；　treaty　of　Montebello　with　the　Republic　of　Genoa；　treaty　of
peace　with　the　emperor　at　Campo　Formio。〃

〃Liberty　restored　to　the　people　of　Bologna；　Ferrara；　Modena；
Massacarrara；　of　the　Romagna；　of　Lombardy；　Brescia；　Bergamo；　Mantua；
Cremona；　Chiavenna；　Bormio；　and　the　Valtellino；　further；　to　the
people　of　Genoa；　to　the　vassals　of　the　emperor；　to　the　people　of　the
department　of　Corcyra；　of　the　Aegean　Sea　and　Ithaca。〃

〃Sent　to　Paris　all　the　masterpieces　of　Michel　Angelo；　Guercino；
Titian；　Paul　Veronese；　Correggio；　Albarro；　the　two　Carracci；
Raphael；　and　Leonardo　da　Vinci。〃　＇Footnote：　This　wonderful　banner
was　hung　up　in　the　hall　of　the　Directory　while　the　members　of　the
latter　were　occupying　the　Luxemburg。　It　afterward　accompanied　the
three　consuls　to　the　Tuileries；　and　was　preserved　there　in　the　large
reception…room。　It　is　now　in　the　〃Dome　des　Invalides〃　in　the　chapel
containing　the　emperor's　sarcophagus。＇

〃Ah；　my　friend；〃　exclaimed　Josephine；　enthusiastically；　〃that　is　a
leaf　from　history　which　the　storms　of　centuries　will　never　blow
away！〃

Bonaparte　slowly　lowered　the　banner　until　it　almost　covered　the
floor　and　then　he　muttered　gloomily：　〃Men　are　like　leaves　in　the
wind；　the　wind　blows　the　leaves　to　the　ground；　＇Footnote：　Homer＇
andbut　no；〃　he　interrupted　himself；　〃I　shall　write　my　name　on
every　rock　and　every　mountain　in　Europe；　and　fasten　it　there　with
iron…clasps　in　such　a　manner　that　no　winds　shall　blow　it　away！　Oh；
footmen！　come　in；　roll　up　the　banner　again；　and　put　it　back　into　the
case！〃

The　footmen　hastened　to　obey；　and　took　the　banner　away。　Bonaparte
turned　again　to　his　wife　with　a　smile。

〃I　promised　you　a　few　presents；〃　he　said。　〃As　yet　I　have　given　you
only　the　medals。　The　best　gift　I　have　kept　back。　Marmont　sent　me　the
statue　of　the　Holy　Virgin　which　he　removed　from　Loretto。〃

〃Then　you　have　not　fulfilled　my　urgent　prayers！〃　said　Josephine；
reproachfully。　〃Even　the　property　of　the　Church　and　of　the　Holy
Father　at　Rome　have　not　been　safe　from　the　hands　of　the　conquerors！〃

〃That　is　the　law　of　war；〃　said　Bonaparte。　〃Woe　to　the　places　which
war　touches　on　its　bloody　path！　But　you　may　reassure　yourself；
Josephine。　I　have　only　taken　from　the　Holy　Father　these　superfluous
things　which　he　may　easily　spare。　I　only　took　his　plate；　his
jewelr