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！
outside of councils and private conversations； he abstains from them；
employing them only in the service of thought； at other times he
subordinates them to the end he has in view； which is always their
practical effect。 Ordinarily； he writes and speaks in a different
language； in a language suited to his audience； he dispenses with the
oddities； the irregular improvisations and imagination； the outbursts
of genius and inspiration。 He retains and uses merely those which are
intended to impress the personage whom he wishes to dazzle with a
great idea of himself； such as Pius VII。； or the Emperor Alexander。
In this case； his conversational tone is that of a caressing；
expansive； amiable familiarity； he is then before the footlights； and
when he acts he can play all parts； tragedy or comedy； with the same
life and spirit whether he fulminates； insinuates； or even affects
simplicity。 When he is with his generals； ministers； and principal
performers； he falls back on the concise； positive； technical business
style； any other would be harmful。 The keen mind only reveals itself
through the brevity and imperious strength and rudeness of the accent。
For his armies and the common run of men； he has his proclamations and
bulletins； that is to say； sonorous phrases composed for effect； a
statement of facts purposely simplified and falsified；＇65＇ in short；
an excellent effervescent wine； good for exciting enthusiasm； and an
equally excellent narcotic for maintaining credulity；＇66＇ a sort of
popular mixture to be distributed just at the proper time； and whose
ingredients are so well proportioned that the public drinks it with
delight； and becomes at once intoxicated。 … His style on every
occasion； whether affected or spontaneous； shows his wonderful
knowledge of the masses and of individuals； except in two or three
cases； on one exalted domain； of which he always remains ignorant； he
has ever hit the mark； applying the appropriate lever； giving just the
push； weight； and degree of impulsion which best accomplishes his
purpose。 A series of brief； accurate memoranda； corrected daily；
enables him to frame for himself a sort of psychological tablet
whereon he notes down and sums up； in almost numerical valuation； the
mental and moral dispositions； characters； faculties； passions； and
aptitudes； the strong or weak points； of the innumerable human beings；
near or remote； on whom he operates。
IV。 His Wonderful Memory。
His Three Atlases。 … Their scale and completeness。
Let us try for a moment to show the range and contents of this
intellect； we may have to go back to Caesar to his equal； but； for
lack of documents； we have nothing of Caesar but general features … a
summary outline。 Of Napoleon we have； besides the perfect outline；
the features in detail。 Read his correspondence； day by day； then
chapter by chapter；＇67＇ for example； in 1806； after the battle of
Austerlitz； or； still better； in 1809； after his return from Spain； up
to the peace of Vienna； whatever our technical shortcomings may be； we
shall find that his mind； in its comprehensiveness and amplitude；
largely surpasses all known or even credible proportions。
He has mentally within him three principal atlases； always at hand；
each composed of 〃about twenty note…books；〃 each distinct and each
regularly posted up。 …
1。 The first one is military； forming a vast collection of
topographical charts as minute as those of an general staff； with
detailed plans of every stronghold； also specific indications and the
local distribution of all forces on sea and on land … crews；
regiments； batteries； arsenals； storehouses； present and future
resources in supplies of men； horses； vehicles； arms； munitions； food；
and clothing。
2。 The second； which is civil； resembles the heavy； thick volumes
published every year； in which we now read the state of the budget；
and comprehend； first； the innumerable items of ordinary and
extraordinary receipt and expenditure； internal taxes； foreign
contributions； the products of the domains in France and out of
France； the fiscal services； pensions； public works； and the rest；
next； all administrative statistics； the hierarchy of functions and of
functionaries； senators； deputies； ministers； prefects； bishops；
professors； judges； and those under their orders； each where he
resides； with his rank； jurisdiction； and salary。
3。 The third is a vast biographical and moral dictionary； in which；
as in the pigeon…holes of the Chief of Police； each notable personage
and local group； each professional or social body； and even each
population； has its label； along with a brief note on its situation；
needs； and antecedents； and； therefore； its demonstrated character；
eventual disposition； and probable conduct。 Each label； card； or
strip of paper has its summary； all these partial summaries；
methodically classified； terminate in totals； and the totals of the
three atlases； combined together； thus furnish their possessor with an
estimate of his disposable forces。
Now； in 1809； however full these atlases； they are clearly imprinted
on Napoleon's mind he knows not only the total and the partial
summaries； but also the slightest details； he reads them readily and
at every hour； he comprehends in a mass； and in all particulars； the
various nations he governs directly； or through some one else； that is
to say； 60；000；000 men； the different countries he has conquered or
overrun； consisting of 70；000 square leagues＇68＇。 At first； France
increased by the addition of Belgium and Piedmont； next Spain； from
which he is just returned； and where he has placed his brother Joseph；
southern Italy； where； after Joseph； he has placed Murat； central
Italy； where he occupies Rome； northern Italy； where Eugène is his
delegate； Dalmatia and Istria； which he has joined to his empire；
Austria； which he invades for the second time； the Confederation of
the Rhine； which he has made and which he directs； Westphalia and
Holland； where his brothers are only his lieutenants； Prussia； which
he has subdued and mutilated and which he oppresses； and the
strongholds of which he still retains； and； add a last mental tableau；
that which represents the northern seas； the Atlantic and the
Mediterranean； all the fleets of the continent at sea and in port from
Dantzic to Flessingen and Bayonne； from Cadiz to Toulon and Ga？ta；
from Tarentum to Venice； Corfu； and Constantinople。＇69＇ … On the
psychological and moral atlas； besides a primitive gap which he will
never fill up； because this is a characteristic trait； there are some
estimates which are wrong； especially with regard to the Pope and to
Catholic conscience。 In like manner he rates the energy of national
sentiment in Spain and Germany too low。 He rates too high his own
prestige in France and in the countries annexed to her； the balance of
confidence and zeal on which he may rely。 But these errors are rather
the product of his will than of his intelligence； he recognizes them
at intervals； if he has illusions it is because he fabricates them；
left to himself his good sense would rest infallible； it is only his
passions which blurred the lucidity of his intellect。 … As to the
other two atlases； the topographical and the military； they are as
complete and as exact as ever； No matter how much the realities they
contain will swell and daily become ever more complex； they continue
to correspond to it in their fullness and precision； trait for trait。
V。 His Imagination and its Excesses。
His constructive imagination。 … His projects and dreams。 …
Manifestation of the master faculty and its excesses。
But this multitude of information and observations form only the
smallest portion of the mental population swarming in this immense
brain； for； on his idea of the real； germinate and swarm his concepts
of the possible； without these concepts there would be no way to
handle and transform things； and that he did handle and transform them
we all know。 Before acting； he has decided on his plan； and if this
plan is adopted； it is one among several others；＇70＇ after examining；
comparing； and giving it the preference； he has accordingly thought
over all the others。 Behind each combination adopted by him we detect
those he has rejected； there are dozens of them behind each of his
decisions； each maneuver effected； each treaty signed； each decree
promulgated； each order issued； and I venture to say； behind almost
every improvised action or word spoken。 For calculation enters into
everything he does； even into his apparent expansiveness； also into
his outbursts when in earnest； if he gives way to these； it is on
purpose； foreseeing the effect； with a view to intimidate or to
dazzle。 He turns everything in others as well as in himself to
account … his passion； his vehemence； his weaknesses； his
talkativeness； he exploits it all for