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the origins of contemporary france-5-第20章

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contrary; encouraging them to express opinions; and even to converse;

tolerating in conversation a semblance of equality; smiling at a

repartee; playfully telling a story … such was his drawing…room

constitution。  The drawing…room as well as every human society needs

one; and a liberal one; otherwise life dies out。  Accordingly; the

observance of this constitution in by…gone society is known by the

phrase savoir…vivre; and; more rigidly than anybody else; Louis XIV。

submitted himself to this code of proprieties。  Traditionally; and

through education; he had consideration for others; at least for the

people around him; his courtiers becoming his guests without ceasing

to be his subjects。



There is nothing of this sort with Napoleon。  He preserves nothing of

the etiquette he borrows from the old court but its rigid discipline

and its pompous parade。  〃The ceremonial system;〃 says an eyewitness;

〃was carried out as if it had been regulated by the tap of a drum;

everything was done; in a certain sense; 'double…quick。''87' 。 。 。

This air of precipitation; this constant anxiety which it inspires;〃

puts an end to all comfort; all ease; all entertainment; all agreeable

intercourse; there is no common bond but that of command and

obedience。  〃 The few individuals he singles out; Savary; Duroc;

Maret; keep silent and simply transmit orders。 。 。 。 We did not appear

to them; in doing what we were ordered to do; and we did not appear to

ourselves; other than veritable machines; all resembling; or but

little short of it; the elegant gilded arm…chairs with which the

palaces of Saint…Cloud and the Tuileries had just been embellished。〃



For a machine to work well it is important that the machinist should

overhaul it frequently; which this one never fails to do; especially

after a long absence。  Whilst he is on his way from Tilsit; 〃everybody

anxiously examines his conscience to ascertain what he has done that

this rigid master will find fault with on his return。  Whether spouse;

family; or grand dignitary; each is more or less disturbed; while the

Empress; who knows him better than any one; naively says; 'As the

Emperor is so happy it is certain that he will do a deal of

scolding!'〃'88' Actually; he has scarcely arrived when he gives a rude

and vigorous wrench of the bolt; and then; 〃satisfied at having

excited terror all around; he appears to have forgotten what has

passed and resumes the usual tenor of his life。〃 〃Through calculation

as well as from taste;'89' he never ceases to be a monarch〃; hence; 〃a

mute; frigid court 。 。 。 。 more dismal than dignified; every face

wears an expression of uneasiness 。 。 。 a silence both dull and

constrained。〃 At Fontainebleau; 〃amidst splendors and pleasures;〃

there is no real enjoyment nor anything agreeable; not even for

himself。  〃I pity you;〃 said M。 de Talleyrand to M。 de Rémusat; 〃you

have to amuse the unamusable。〃 At the theatre he is abstracted or

yawns。  Applause is prohibited; the court; sitting out 〃the file of

eternal tragedies; is mortally bored 。 。 。 。 the young ladies fall

asleep; people leave the theatre; gloomy and discontented。〃 … There is

the same constraint in the drawing…room。 〃He did not know how to

appear at ease; and I believe that he never wanted anybody else to be

so; afraid of the slightest approach to familiarity; and inspiring

each with a fear of saying something offensive to his neighbor before

witnesses。 。 。 。 During the quadrille; he moves around amongst the

rows of ladies; addressing them with some trifling or disagreeable

remark;〃 and never does he accost them otherwise than 〃awkwardly and

ill at his ease。〃 At bottom; he distrusts them and is ill…disposed

toward them。'90'  It is because 〃the power they have acquired in

society seems to him an intolerable usurpation。 … 〃Never did he utter

to a woman a graceful or even a well…turned compliment; although the

effort to find one was often apparent on his face and in the tone of

his voice。 。 。 。 He talks to them only of their toilet; of which he

declares himself a severe and minute judge; and on which he indulges

in not very delicate jests; or again; on the number of their children;

demanding of them in rude language whether they nurse them themselves;

or again; lecturing them on their social relations。〃'91' Hence; 〃there

is not one who does not rejoice when he moves off。〃'92' He would often

amuse himself by putting them out of countenance; scandalizing and

bantering them to their faces; driving them into a corner the same as

a colonel worries his canteen women。  〃Yes; ladies; you furnish the

good people of the Faubourg Saint…Germain with something to talk

about。  It is said; Madame A。。。; that you are intimate with Monsieur

B。。。; and you Madame C。。。。; with Monsieur D  。〃 On any intrigue

chancing to appear in the police reports; 〃he loses no time in

informing the husband of what is going on。〃 … He is no less indiscreet

in relation to his own affairs;'93' when it is over he divulges the

fact and gives the name; furthermore; he informs Josephine in detail

and will not listen to any reproach: 〃I have a right to answer all

your objections with an eternal I!〃



This term; indeed; answers to everything; and he explains it by

adding: 〃I stand apart from other men。  I accept nobody's conditions;〃

nor any species of obligation; no code whatever; not even the common

code of outward civility; which; diminishing or dissimulating

primitive brutality; allows men to associate together without

clashing。  He does not comprehend it; and he repudiates it。  〃I have

little liking;〃'94' he says; 〃for that vague; leveling word propriety

(convenances); which you people fling out every chance you get。  It is

an invention of fools who want to pass for clever men; a kind of

social muzzle which annoys the strong and is useful only to the

mediocre。  。 。 Ah; good taste ! Another classic expression which I do

not accept。〃 〃It is your personal enemy〃; says Talleyrand to him; one

day; 〃if you could have shot it away with bullets; it would have

disappeared long ago!〃 … It is because good taste is the highest

attainment of civilization; the innermost vestment which drapes human

nudity; which best fits the person; the last garment retained after

the others have been cast off; and which delicate tissue continues to

hamper Napoleon; he throws it off instinctively; because it interferes

with his natural behavior; with the uncurbed; dominating; savage ways

of the vanquisher who knocks down his adversary and treats him as he

pleases。



V。 His Policy。



His tone and bearing towards Sovereigns。 … His Policy。 … His means and

ends。… After Sovereigns he sets populations against him。 … Final

opinion of Europe。



Such behavior render social intercourse impossible; especially among

the independent and armed personages known as nations or States。 This

is why they are outlawed in politics and in diplomacy and every head

of a State or representative of a country; carefully and on principle;

abstains from them; at least with those on his own level。  He is bound

to treat these as his equals; humor them; and; accordingly; not to

give way to the irritation of the moment or to personal feeling; in

short; to exercise self…control and measure his words。  To this is due

the tone of manifestos; protocols; dispatches; and other public

documents the formal language of legations; so cold; dry; and

elaborated; those expressions purposely attenuated and smoothed down;

those long phrases apparently spun out mechanically and always after

the same pattern; a sort of soft wadding or international buffer

interposed between contestants to lessen the shocks of collision。  The

reciprocal irritations between States are already too great; there are

ever too many unavoidable and regrettable encounters; too many causes

of conflict; the consequences of which are too serious; it is

unnecessary to add to the wounds of interest the wounds of imagination

and of pride; and above all; it is unnecessary to amplify these

without reason; at the risk of increasing the obstacles of to…day and

the resentments of to…morrow。 … With Napoleon it is just the opposite:

his attitude; even at peaceful interviews; remains aggressive and

militant; purposely or in…voluntarily; he raises his hand and the blow

is felt to be coming; while; in the meantime; he insults。  In his

correspondence with sovereigns; in his official proclamations; in his

deliberations with ambassadors; and even at public audiences;'95' he

provokes; threatens; and defies。'96'  He treats his adversary with a

lofty air; insults him often to his face; and charges him with the

most disgraceful imputations。'97'  He divulges the secrets of his

private life; of his closet; and of his bed; he defames or calumniates

his ministers; his court; and his wife;'98' he purposely stabs him in

the most sensitive part。  He tells one that he is a dupe; a betrayed

husband; another 
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