按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
when a child； had foreshadowed in his engagement with the scholars his
gigantic combats。 The engagement at La Rothiere was hotly contested； and
the enemy obtained； only at the price of much blood； an advantage which
they owed entirely to their numerical superiority。 In the night which
followed this unequal struggle； the Emperor ordered the retreat from
Troves。 On returning to the chateau after the battle； his Majesty
narrowly escaped an imminent danger。 He found himself surrounded by a
troop of uhlans； and drew his sword to defend himself。 M。 Jardin；
junior； his equerry； who followed the Emperor closely； received a ball in
his arm。 Several chasseurs of the escort were wounded； but they at last
succeeded in extricating his Majesty。 I can assert that his Majesty
showed the greatest self…possession in all encounters of this kind。 On
that day； as I unbuckled his sword…belt； he drew it half out of the
scabbard； saying； 〃Do you know； Constant； the wretches have made me cut
the wind with this？ The rascals are too impudent。 It is necessary to
teach them a lesson； that they may learn to hold themselves at a
respectful distance。〃
It is not my intention to write the history of this campaign in France；
in which the Emperor displayed an activity and energy which excited to
the highest point the admiration of those who surrounded him。
Unfortunately； the advantages which he had obtained gradually exhausted
his own troops； while only creating losses in the enemy's； which they
easily repaired。 It was； as M。 Bourrienne has well said； a combat of an
Alpine eagle with a flock of ravens： 〃The eagle may kill them by
hundreds。 Each blow of his beak is the death of an enemy； but the ravens
return in still greater numbers； and continue their attack on the eagle
until they at last overcome him。〃 At Champ…Aubert； at Montmirail； at
Nangis； at Montereau； and at Arcis； and in twenty other engagements； the
Emperor obtained the advantage by his genius and by the courage of our
army； but it was all in vain。 Hardly had these masses of the enemy been
scattered； before fresh ones were formed again in front of our soldiers；
exhausted by continuous battles and forced marches。 The army； especially
that which Blucher commanded； seemed to revive of itself； and whenever
beaten reappeared with forces equal； if not superior； to those which had
been destroyed or dispersed。 How can such an immense superiority of
numbers be indefinitely resisted？
CHAPTER XXIII。
The Emperor had never shown himself so worthy of admiration as during
this fatal campaign in France； when； struggling against misfortunes； he
performed over again the prodigies of his first wars in Italy； when
fortune smiled on him。 His career had begun with an attack； and the end
was marked by the most magnificent defense recorded in the annals of war。
And it may be said with truth that at all times and everywhere his
Majesty showed himself both the perfect general and the soldier； under
all circumstances furnishing an example of personal courage to such an
extent； indeed； that all those who surrounded him； and whose existence
was dependent on his own； were seriously alarmed。 For instance； as is
well known； the Emperor； at the battle of Montereau； pointed the pieces
of artillery himself； recklessly exposed himself to the enemy's fire； and
said to his soldiers； who were much alarmed at his danger and attempted
to remove him； 〃Let me alone； my friends； the bullet which is to kill me
has not yet been molded。〃
At Arcis the Emperor again fought as a common soldier； and more than once
drew his sword in order to cut his way through the midst of the enemy who
surrounded him。 A shell fell a few steps from his horse。 The animal；
frightened； jumped to one side； and nearly unhorsed the Emperor； who；
with his field…glass in his hand； was at the moment occupied in examining
the battlefield。 His Majesty settled himself again firmly in his saddle；
stuck his spurs in the horse's sides； forced him to approach and put his
nose to it。 Just then the shell burst； and； by an almost incredible
chance； neither the Emperor nor his horse was even wounded。
In more than one similar circumstance the Emperor seemed； during this
campaign； to put his life at a venture； and yet it was only in the last
extremity that he abandoned the hope of preserving his throne。 It was a
painful sacrifice to him to treat with the enemy so long as they occupied
French territory； for he wished to purge the soil of France of the
presence of foreigners before entering into any agreement with them
whatever。 And this feeling was the reason of his hesitation and refusal
to accept the peace which was offered him on various occasions。
On the 8th of February； the Emperor； at the end of a long discussion with
two or three of his intimate advisers； retired very late； and in a state
of extreme preoccupation。 He woke me often during the night； complaining
of being unable to sleep； and made me extinguish and relight his lamp
again and again。 About five o'clock in the morning I was called again。
I was almost fainting with fatigue； which his Majesty noticed； and said
to me kindly； 〃You are worn out； my poor Constant； we are making a
severe campaign； are we not？ But hold out only a little longer； you will
soon rest。〃
Encouraged by the sympathizing tones of his Majesty； I took the liberty
of replying that no one could think of complaining of the fatigue or
privations he endured； since they were shared by his Majesty； but that；
nevertheless； the desire and hope of every one were for peace。 〃Ah；
yes；〃 replied the Emperor； with a kind of subdued violence； 〃they will
have peace； they will realize what a dishonorable peace is！〃 I kept
silence； his Majesty's chagrin distressed me deeply； and I wished at this
moment that his army could have been composed of men of iron like
himself； then he would have made peace only on the frontiers of France。
The tone of kindness and familiarity in which the Emperor spoke to me on
this occasion recalls another circumstance which I neglected to relate in
its proper place； and which I must not pass over in silence； since it
furnishes such a fine example of his Majesty's conduct towards the
persons of his service； and especially myself。 Roustan witnessed the
occurrence； and it was from him I learned the opening details。
In one of his campaigns beyond the Rhine （I do not remember which）； I had
passed several nights in succession without sleep； and was exhausted。
The Emperor went out at eleven o'clock； and remained three or four hours；
and I seated myself in his armchair； near his table； to await his return；
intending to rise and retire as soon as I heard him enter； but was so
exhausted with fatigue that sleep suddenly overtook me； and I dropped
into a deep slumber； my head resting on my arm； and my arm on his
Majesty's table。 The Emperor returned at last with Marshal Berthier； and
followed by Roustan。 I heard nothing。 The Prince de Neuchatel wished to
approach and shake me that I might awake and resign to his Majesty his
seat and table； but the Emperor stopped him； saying； 〃Let the poor fellow
sleep； he has passed many nights with none。〃 Then； as there was no other
chair in the apartment； the Emperor seated himself on the edge of the
bed； made the marshal also seat himself there； and they held a long
conversation while I continued to sleep。 At length； needing one of the
maps from the table on which my arm rested； his Majesty； although he drew
it out most cautiously； awoke me； and I immediately sprang to my feet；
overwhelmed with confusion； and excusing myself for the liberty I had so
involuntarily taken。 〃Monsieur Constant；〃 the Emperor then said with an
exceedingly kind smile； 〃I am distressed to have disturbed you。 Pray；
excuse me。〃 I trust that this； in addition to what I have already
related of the same nature； may serve as an answer to those who have
accused him of harshness to his servants。 I resume my recital of the
events of 1814。
On the night of the 8th the Emperor seemed to have decided on making
peace； and the whole night was spent in preparing dispatches； which on
the morning of the 9th at nine o'clock were brought to him to sign； but
he had changed his mind。 At seven o'clock he had received news from the
Russian and Prussian army； and when the Duke of Bassano entered； holding
in his hand the dispatches to be signed； his Majesty was asleep over the
maps where he had stuck his pens。 〃Ah； it is you；〃 said he to his
minister； 〃we will no longer need those。 We are now laying plans to
attack Blucher； he has taken the road from Montmirail。 I am about to
start。 To…morrow I will fight； and again the next day。 The aspect of
affairs is on the point of changing； as we shall see。 Let us not be
precipitate；there is time enough to make such a peace as they propose。〃
An hour after we were on the road to Sezanne。
For several days in succession after this； the heroic efforts of the
Emperor and his brave soldiers were crowned with brilliant success。
Immediately on their arrival at Champ…Aubert； the army； finding itself in
presence of the Russian army corps； against which