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I remember that he never whistled so much； and was never so gay； as just
before he set out for the Russian campaign。
His Majesty's； favorite singer were Crescentini and Madame Grassini。
I saw Crescentini's debut at Paris in the role of Romeo； in Romeo and
Juliet。 He came preceded by a reputation as the first singer of Italy；
and this reputation was found to be well deserved； notwithstanding all
the prejudices he had to overcome； for I remember well the disparaging
statements made concerning him before his debut at the court theater。
According to these self…appointed connoisseurs； he was a bawler without
taste； without method； a maker of absurd trills； an unimpassioned actor
of little intelligence； and many other things besides。 He knew； when he
appeared on the stage； how little disposed in his favor his audience
were； yet he showed not the slightest embarrassment； this； and his noble；
dignified mien； agreeably surprised those who expected from what they had
been told to behold an awkward man with an ungainly figure。 A murmur of
approbation ran through the hall on his appearance； and electrified by
this welcome； he gained all hearts from the first act。 His movements
were full of grace and dignity； he had a perfect knowledge of the scene；
modest gestures perfectly in harmony with the dialogue； and a countenance
on which all shades of passion were depicted with the most astonishing
accuracy； and all these rare and precious qualities combined to give to
the enchanting accents of this artist a charm of which it is impossible
to give an idea。
At each scene the interest he inspired became more marked； until in the
third act the emotion and delight of the spectator were carried almost to
frenzy。 In this act； played almost solely by Crescentini； this admirable
singer communicated to the hearts of his audience all that is touching
and； pathetic in a love expressed by means of delicious melody； and by
all that grief and despair can find sublime in song。
The Emperor was enraptured； and sent Crescentini a considerable
compensation； accompanied by most flattering testimonials of the pleasure
he had felt in hearing him。
On this day； as always when they played together afterwards； Crescentini
was admirably supported by Madame Grassini； a woman of superior talent；
and who possessed the most astonishing voice ever heard in the theater。
She and Madame Barilli then divided the admiration of the public。
The very evening or the day after the debut of Crescentini； the French
stage suffered an irreparable loss in the death of Dazincourt； only sixty
years of age。 The illness of which he died had begun on his return from
Erfurt； and was long and painful； and yet the public； to whom this great
comedian had so long given such pleasure； took no notice of him after it
was found his sickness was incurable and his death certain。 Formerly
when a highly esteemed actor was kept from his place for some time by
illness （and who deserved more esteem than Dazincourt？）； the pit was
accustomed to testify its regret by inquiring every day as to the
condition of the afflicted one； and at the end of each representation the
actor whose duty it was to announce the play for the next day gave the
audience news of his comrade。 This was not done for Dazincourt； and the
pit thus showed ingratitude to him。
I liked and esteemed sincerely Dazincourt； whose acquaintance I had made
several years before his death； and few men better deserved or so well
knew how to gain esteem and affection。 I will not speak of his genius；
which rendered him a worthy successor of Preville； whose pupil and
friend he was； for all his contemporaries remember Figaro as played by
Dazincourt； but I will speak of the nobility of his character； of his
generosity； and his well…tested honor。 It would seem that his birth and
education should have kept him from the theater； where circumstances
alone placed him； but he was able to protect himself against the
seductions of his situation； and in the greenroom； and in the midst of
domestic intrigues； remained a man of good character and pure manners。
He was welcomed in the best society； where he soon became a favorite by
his piquant sallies； as much as by his good manners and urbanity； for he
amused without reminding that he was a comedian。
At the end of February his Majesty went to stay for some time at the
palace of the Elysee； and there I think was signed the marriage contract
of one of his best lieutenants； Marshal Augereau； recently made Duke of
Castiglione； with Mademoiselle Bourlon de Chavanges； the daughter of an
old superior officer； and there also was rendered the imperial decree
which gave to the Princess Eliza the grand duchy of Tuscany； with the
title of grand duchess。
About the middle of March； the Emperor passed several days at
Rambouillet； there were held some exciting hunts； in one of which his
Majesty himself brought to bay and killed a stag near the pool of Saint…
Hubert。 There was also a ball and concert； in which appeared
Crescentini； Mesdames Grassini； Barelli； and several celebrated
virtuosos； and lastly Talma recited。
On the 13th of April； at four o'clock in the morning； the Emperor having
received news of another invasion of Bavaria by the Austrians； set out
for Strasburg with the Empress； whom he left in that city； and on the
15th； at eleven o'clock in the morning； he passed the Rhine at the head
of his army。 The Empress did not long remain alone； as the Queen of
Holland and her sons； the Grand Duchess of Baden and her husband； soon
joined her。
The splendid campaign of 1809 at once began。 It is known how glorious it
was； and that one of its least glorious victories was the capture of
Vienna。
At Ratisbon； on the 23d of April； the Emperor received in his right foot
a spent ball； which gave him quite a severe bruise。 I was with the
service when several grenadiers hastened to tell me that his Majesty was
wounded； upon which I hastened to him； and arrived while M。 Yvan was
dressing the contusion。 The Emperor's boot was cut open； and laced up；
and he remounted his horse immediately； and； though several of the
generals insisted on his resting； he only replied： 〃My friends； do you
not know that it is necessary for me to see everything？〃 The enthusiasm
of the soldiers cannot be expressed when they learned that their chief
had been wounded； though his wound was not dangerous。 〃The Emperor is
exposed like us；〃 they said； 〃he is not a coward； not he。〃 The papers
did not mention this occurrence。
Before entering a battle； the Emperor always ordered that； in case he was
wounded； every possible measure should be taken to conceal it from his
troops。 〃Who knows；〃 said he； 〃what terrible confusion might be produced
by such news？ To my life is attached the destiny of a great Empire。
Remember this； gentlemen； and if I am wounded； let no one know it； if
possible。 If I am slain； try to win the battle without me； there will be
time enough to tell it afterwards。〃
Two weeks after the capture of Ratisbon； I was in advance of his Majesty
on the road to Vienna； alone in a carriage with an officer of the
household； when we suddenly heard frightful screams in a house on the
edge of the road。 I gave orders to stop at once； and we alighted； and；
on entering the house； found several soldiers； or rather stragglers； as
there are in all armies； who； paying no attention to the alliance between
France and Bavaria； were treating most cruelly a family which lived in
this house； and consisted of an old grandmother； a young man； three
children； and a young girl。
Our embroidered coats had a happy effect on these madmen； whom we
threatened with the Emperor's anger； and we succeeded in driving them out
of the house； and soon after took our departure； overwhelmed with thanks。
In the evening I spoke to the Emperor of what I had done； and he approved
highly； saying； 〃It cannot be helped。 There are always some cowardly
fellows in the army； and they are the ones who do the mischief。 A brave
and good soldier would blush to do such things！〃
I had occasion； in the beginning of these Memoirs； to speak of the
steward； M。 Pfister； one of his Majesty's most faithful servants； and
also one of those to whom his Majesty was most attached。 M。 Pfister had
followed him to Egypt； and had faced countless dangers in his service。
The day of the battle of Landshut； which either preceded or followed very
closely the taking of Ratisbon this poor man became insane； rushed out of
his tent； and concealed himself in a wood near the field of battle； after
taking off all his clothing。 At the end of a few hours his Majesty asked
for M。 Pfister。 He was sought for； and every one was questioned； but no
one could tell what had become of him。 The Emperor； fearing that he
might have been taken prisoner； sent an orderly officer to the Austrians
to recover his steward； and propose an exchange； but the officer
returned； saying that the Austrians had not seen M。 Pfister。 The
Emperor； much disquieted； ordered a search to be made in the
neighborhood； and by this means the poor fellow was discovered entirely
naked； as I have said； cowering behind a