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society is not that of peace but of war； he sees by what ruses one
maintains one's…self； by what acts of violence one makes ones way； by
what sort of help one mounts upward。 Left to himself the rest of the
day； to the nurse Ilaria； or to Saveria the housekeeper； or to the
common people amongst whom he strays at will； he listens to the
conversation of sailors or of shepherds assembled on the public
square； and their simple exclamations； their frank admiration of well…
planned ambuscades and lucky surprises； impress more profoundly on
him； often repeated with so much energy； the lessons which he has
already learned at home。 These are the lessons taught by things。 At
this tender age they sink deep； especially when the disposition is
favorable； and in this case the heart sanctions them beforehand；
because education finds its confederate in instinct。 Accordingly； at
the outbreak of the Revolution； on revisiting Corsica； he takes life
at once as he finds it there； a combat with any sort of weapon； and；
on this small arena； he acts unscrupulously； going farther than
anybody。＇31＇ If he respects justice and law； it is only in words； and
even here ironically； in his eyes； law is a term of the code； justice
a book term； while might makes right。
A second blow of the coining…press gives another impression of the
same stamp on this character already so decided； while French anarchy
forces maxims into the mind of the young man； already traced in the
child's mind by Corsican anarchy； the lessons of things provided by a
society going to pieces are the same as those of a society which is
not yet formed。 … His sharp eyes； at a very early period； see through
the flourish of theory and the parade of phrases； they detect the real
foundation of the Revolution； namely； the sovereignty of unbridled
passions and the conquest of the majority by the minority； conquering
or conquered； a choice must be made between these two extreme
conditions； there is no middle course。 After the 9th of Thermidor；
the last veils are torn away； and the instincts of license and
domination； the ambitions of individuals； fully display themselves。
There is no concern for public interests or for the rights of the
people； it is clear that the rulers form a band； that France is their
prey； and that they intend to hold on to it for and against everybody；
by every possible means； including bayonets。 Under this civil régime；
a clean sweep of the broom at the center makes it necessary to be on
the side of numbers。 … In the armies； especially in the army of Italy；
republican faith and patriotic abnegation； since the territory became
free； have given way to natural appetites and military passions。＇32＇
Barefoot； in rags； with four ounces of bread a day； paid in assignats
which are not accepted in the markets； both officers and men desire
above all things to be relieved of their misery； 〃the poor fellows；
after three years of longing on the summits of the Alps； reach the
promised land； and want to enjoy it。〃＇33＇ Another spur consists in the
pride which is stimulated by the imagination and by success； add to
this the necessity for finding an outlet for their energy； the steam
and high pressure of youth ； nearly all are very young men； who regard
life； in Gallic or French fashion； as a party of pleasure and as a
duel。 But to feel brave and to prove that one is so； to face bullets
for amusement and defiantly； to abandon a successful adventure for a
battle and a battle for a ball； to enjoy ones…self and take risks to
excess； without dissimulating； and with no other object than the
sensation of the moment；＇34＇ to revel in excitement through emulation
and danger； is no longer self…devotion； but giving one's…self up to
one's fancies ； and； for all who are not harebrained； to give one's…
self up to one's fancies means to make one's way； obtain promotion；
pillage so as to become rich； like Massena； and conquer so as to
become powerful； like Bonaparte。 … All this is understood between the
general and his army from the very first；＇35＇ and； after one year's
experience； the understanding is perfect。 One moral is derived from
their common acts； vague in the army； precise in the general； what the
army only half sees； he sees clearly； if he urges his comrades on； it
is because they follow their own inclination。 He simply has a start on
them； and is quicker to make up his mind that the world is a grand
banquet； free to the first…comer； but at which； to be well served； one
must have long arms； be the first to get helped； and let the rest take
what is left。
So natural does this seem to him； he says so openly and to men who are
not his intimates； to Miot； a diplomat； and to Melzi a foreigner：
〃Do you suppose； says he to them；＇36＇ after the preliminaries of
Leoben； 〃that to make great men out of Directory lawyers； the Carnots'
and the Barras； I triumph in Italy？ Do you suppose also that it is for
the establishment of a republic？ What an idea！ A republic of thirty
million men！ With our customs； our vices； how is that possible？ It is
a delusion which the French are infatuated with and which will vanish
along with so many others。 What they want is glory； the gratification
of vanity … they know nothing about liberty。 Look at the army！ Our
successes just obtained； our triumphs have already brought out the
true character of the French soldier。 I am all for him。 Let the
Directory deprive me of the command and it will see if it is master。
The nation needs a chief； one who is famous though his exploits； and
not theories of government； phrases and speeches by ideologists； which
Frenchmen do not comprehend。 。 。 。 As to your country； Monsieur de
Melzi； it has still fewer elements of republicanism than France； and
much less ceremony is essential with it than with any other。 。 。 In
other respects； I have no idea of coming to terms so promptly with
Austria。 It is not for my interest to make peace。 You see what I am；
what I can do in Italy。 If peace is brought about； if I am no longer
at the head of this army which has become attached to me； I must give
up this power； this high position I have reached； and go and pay court
to lawyers in the Luxembourg。 I should not like to quit Italy for
France except to play a part there similar to that which I play here；
and the time for that has not yet come … the pear is not ripe。〃
To wait until the pear is ripe； but not to allow anybody else to
gather it； is the true motive of his political fealty and of his
Jacobin proclamations： 〃A party in favor of the Bourbons is raising
its head； I have no desire to help it along。 One of these days I
shall weaken the republican party； but I shall do it for my own
advantage and not for that of the old dynasty。 Meanwhile； it is
necessary to march with the Republicans；〃 along with the worst； and'
the scoundrels about to purge the Five Hundred； the Ancients； and the
Directory itself； and then re…establish in France the Reign of Terror。
… In effect； he contributes to the 18th of Fructidor； and； the blow
struck； he explains very clearly why he took part in it：
〃Do not believe＇37＇ I did it in conformity with the ideas entertained
by those with whom I acted。 I did … not want a return of the
Bourbons； and especially if brought back by Moreau's army and by
Pichegru。 。 。 Finally； I will not take the part of Monk； I will not
play it； and I will not have others play it。 。 。 。 As for myself； my
dear Miot； I declare to you that I can no longer obey； I have tasted
command and I cannot give it up。 My mind is made up。 If I cannot be
master I will leave France。〃
There is no middle course for him between the two alter natives。 On
returning to Paris he thinks of 〃overthrowing the Directory；＇38＇
dissolving the councils and of making himself dictator〃； but； having
satisfied himself that there was but little chance of succeeding； 〃he
postpones his design〃 and falls back on the second course。 〃This is
the only motive of his expedition into Egypt。〃＇39＇ … That； in the
actual condition of France and of Europe； the expedition is opposed to
public interests； that France deprives itself of its best army and
offers its best fleet to almost certain destruction； is of little
consequence provided； in this vast and gratuitous adventure； Bonaparte
finds the employment he wants； a large field of action and famous
victories which； like the blasts of a trumpet； will swell beyond the
seas and renew his prestige： in his eyes； the fleet； the army； France；
and humanity exist only for him and are created only for his service。
… If； in confirmation of this persuasion； another lesson in things is
still necessary； it will be furnished by Egypt。 Here； absolute
sovereign； free of any restraint； contending with an inferior order of
humanity； he acts the sultan and accustoms himself to playing the
part。＇40＇ His last scruples towards the human species disappear； 〃I
became di