memoirs of napoleon bonaparte, v13-第10部分

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magnitude　of　the　undertaking；　before　them　were　30；000；000　men　uniting　to
be　set　free！　　He；　however；　sent　the　Commissariat　Officer　to　try　what　be
could　do；　calling　out　after　him；　〃Take　care　you　do　not　get　yourself　made
prisoner　too！〃

At　nightfall　the　troops　bivouacked　on　the　beach。　　Just　before　a
postillion；　in　a　splendid　livery；　had　been　brought　to　Napoleon。　　It
turned　out　that　this　man　had　formerly　been　a　domestic　of　the　Empress
Josephine；　and　was　now　in　the　service　of　the　Prince　of　Monaco；　who
himself　had　been　equerry　to　the　Empress。　　The　postillion；　after
expressing　his　great　astonishment　at　finding　the　Emperor　there；　stated；
in　answer　to　the　questions　that　were　put　to　him；　that　he　had　just　come
from　Paris；　that　all　along　the　road；　as　far　as　Avignon；　he　had　heard
nothing　but　regret　for　the　Emperor's　absence；　that　his　name　was
constantly　echoed　from　mouth　to　mouth；　and　that；　when　once　fairly　through
Provence；　he　would　find　the　whole　population　ready　to　rally　round　him。
The　man　added　that　his　laced　livery　had　frequently　rendered　him　the
object　of　odium　and　insult　on　the　road。　　This　was　the　testimony　of　one　of
the　common　class　of　society：　it　was　very　gratifying　to　the　Emperor；　as　it
entirely　corresponded　with　his　expectations。　　The　Prince　of　Monaco
himself；　on　being　presented　to　the　Emperor；　was　less　explicit。　　Napoleon
refrained　from　questioning　him　on　political　matters。　　The　conversation
therefore　assumed　a　more　lively　character；　and　turned　altogether　on　the
ladies　of　the　former　Imperial　Court；　concerning　whom　the　Emperor　was　very
particular　in　his　inquiries。

As　soon　as　the　moon　had　risen；　which　was　about　one　or　two　in　the　morning
of　the　2d；　the　bivouacs　were　broken　up；　and　Napoleon　gave　orders　for
proceeding　to　Grasse。　　There　he　expected　to　find　a　road　which　he　had
planned　during　the　Empire；　but　in　this　he　was　disappointed；　the　Bourbons
having　given　up　all　such　expensive　works　through　want　of　money。
Bonaparte　was　therefore　obliged　to　pass　through　narrow　defiles　filled
with　snow；　and　left　behind　him　in　the　hands　of　the　municipality　his
carriage　and　two　pieces　of　cannon；　which　had　been　brought　ashore。　　This
was　termed　a　capture　in　the　bulletins　of　the　day。　　The　municipality　of
Grasse　was　strongly　in　favour　of　the　Royalist　cause；　but　the　sudden
appearance　of　the　Emperor　afforded　but　little　time　for　hesitation；　and
they　came　to　tender　their　submission　to　him。　　Having　passed　through　the
town　be　halted　on　a　little　height　some　way　beyond　it；　where　he
breakfasted。　　He　was　soon　surrounded　by　the　whole　population　of　the
place；　and　he　heard　the　same　sentiments　and　the　same　prayers　as　before　he
quitted　France。　　A　multitude　of　petitions　had　already　been　drawn　up；　and
were　presented　to　him；　just　as　though　he　had　come　from　Paris　and　was
making　a　tour　through　the　departments。　　One　complained　that　his　pension
had　not　been　paid；　another　that　his　cross　of　the　Legion　of　Honour　had
been　taken　from　him。　　Some　of　the　more　discontented　secretly　informed
Napoleon　that　the　authorities　of　the　town　were　very　hostile　to　him；　but
that　the　mass　of　the　people　were　devoted　to　him；　and　only　waited　till　his
back　was　turned　to　rid　themselves　of　the　miscreants。　　He　replied；　〃Be　not
too　hasty。　　Let　them　have　the　mortification　of　seeing　our　triumph　without
having　anything　to　reproach　us　with。〃　　The　Emperor　advanced　with　all　the
rapidity　in　his　power。　　〃Victory；〃　he　said；　〃depended　on　my　speed。　　To　me
France　was　in　Grenoble。　　That　place　was　a　hundred　miles　distant；　but　I
and　my　companions　reached　it　in　five　days；　and　with　what　weather　and　what
roads！　I　entered　the　city　just　as　the　Comte　d'Artois；　warned　by　the
telegraph；　was　quitting　the　Tuileries。〃

Napoleon　himself　was　so　perfectly　convinced　of　the　state　of　affairs　that
he　knew　his　success　in　no　way　depended　on　the　force　he　might　bring　with
him。　　A　'piquet'　of　'gens　d'armes'；　he　said；　was　all　that　was　necessary。
Everything　turned　out　as　he　foresaw。　　At　first　he　owned　he　was　not
without　some　degree　of　uncertainty　and　apprehension。　　As　he　advanced；
however；　the　whole　population　declared　themselves　enthusiastically　in　his
favour：　but　he　saw　no　soldiers。　　It　was　not　till　he　arrived　between　Mure
and　Vizille；　within　five　or　six　leagues　from　Grenoble；　and　on　the　fifth
day　after　his　landing；　that　he　met　a　battalion。　　The　commanding　officer
refused　to　hold　even　a　parley。　　The　Emperor；　without　hesitation；　advanced
alone；　and　100　grenadiers　marched　at　some　distance　behind　him；　with　their
arms　reversed。　　The　sight　of　Napoleon；　his　well…known　costume；　and　his
gray　military　greatcoat；　had　a　magical　effect　on　the　soldiers；　and　they
stood　motionless。　　Napoleon　went　straight　up　to　them　and　baring　his
breast　said；　〃Let　him　that　has　the　heart　kill　his　Emperor！〃　　The　soldiers
threw　down　their　arms；　their　eyes　moistened　with　tears；　and　cries　of
〃Vive　l'Empereur！〃　resounded　on　every　side。　　Napoleon　ordered　the
battalion　to　wheel　round　to　the　right；　and　all　marched　on　together。

At　a　short　distance　from　Grenoble　Colonel　Labedoyere；　who　had　been　sent
at　the　head　of　the　7th　regiment　to　oppose　his　passage；　came　to　join　the
Emperor。　　The　impulse　thus　given　in　a　manner　decided　the　question。
Labedoyere's　superior　officer　in　vain　interfered　to　restrain　his
enthusiasm　and　that　of　his　men。　　The　tri…coloured　cockades；　which　had
been　concealed　in　the　hollow　of　a　drum；　were　eagerly　distributed　by
Labedoyere　among　them；　and　they　threw　away　the　white　cockade　as　a　badge
of　their　nation's　dishonour。　　The　peasantry　of　Dauphiny；　the　cradle　of
the　Revolution；　lined　the　roadside：　they　were　transported　and　mad　with
joy。　　The　first　battalion；　which　has　just　been　alluded　to；　had　shown　some
signs　of　hesitation；　but　thousands　of　the　country　people　crowded　round
it；　and　by　their　shouts　of　〃Vive　l'Empereur！〃　endeavoured　to　urge　the
troops　to　decision；　while　others　who　followed　in　Napoleon's　rear
encouraged　his　little　troop　to　advance　by　assuring　them　that　they　would
meet　with　success。　　Napoleon　said　he　could　have　taken　2；000；000　of　these
peasants　with　him　to　Paris；　but　that　then　he　would　have　been　called　〃the
King　of　the　Jaequerie。〃

Napoleon　issued　two　proclamations　on　the　road。　　He　at　first　regretted
that　he　had　not　had　them　printed　before　he　left　Elba；　but　this　could　not
have　been　done　without　some　risk　of　betraying　his　secret　designs。　　He
dictated　them　on　board　the　vessel；　where　every　man　who　could　write　was
employed　in　copying　them。　　These　copies　soon　became　very　scarce；　many　of
them　were　illegible；　and　it　was　of　till　he　arrived　at　Gap；　on　the　5th　of
March；　that　he　found　means　to　have　them　printed。　　They　were　from　that
time　circulated　and　read　everywhere　with　the　utmost　avidity。

The　address　to　the　army　was　considered　as　being　still　more　masterly　and
eloquent；　and　it　was　certainly　well　suited　to　the　taste　of　French
soldiers；　who；　as　Bourrienne　remarks；　are　wonderfully　pleased　with
grandiloquence；　metaphor；　and　hyperbole；　though　they　do　not　always
understand　what　they　mean。　　Even　a　French　author　of　some　distinction
praises　this　address　as　something　sublime。　　〃The　proclamation　to　the
army；〃　says　he；　〃is　full　of　energy：　it　could　not　fail　to　make　all
military　imaginations　vibrate。　　That　prophetic　phrase；　'The　eagle；　with
the　national　colours；　will　fly　from　church　steeple　to　church　steeple；
till　it　settles　on　the　towers　of　Notre　Dame；'　was　happy　in　the　extreme。〃

These　words　certainly　produced　an　immense　effect　on　the　French　soldiery；
who　everywhere　shouted；　〃Vive　l'Empereur！〃　　Vive　le　petit　Caporal！〃
〃We　will　die　for　our　old　comrade！〃　with　the　most　genuine　enthusiasm。

It　was　some　distance　in　advance　of　Grenoble　that　Labedoyere　joined；　but
he　could　not　make　quite　sure　of　the　garrison　of　that　city；　which　was
commanded　by　General　Marchand；　a　man　resolved　to　be　faithful　to　his
latest　master。　　The　shades　of　night　had　fallen　when　Bonaparte　arrived　in
front　of　the　fortress　of　Grenoble；　where　he　stood　for　some　minutes　in　a
painful　state　of　suspense　and　indecision。

It　was　on　the　7th　of　March；　at　nightfall；　that　Bonaparte　thus　stood
before　the　walls　of　Grenoble。　　He　found　the　gates　closed；　and　the
commanding　officer　refused　to　open　them。　　The　garrison　assembled　on　the
ramparts　shouted　〃Vive　l'Empereur！〃　and　shook　hands　with　Napoleon's
followers　through　the　wickets；　but　they　could　not　be　prevailed　on　to　do
more。　　It　was　necessary　to　force　the　gates；　and　this　was　done　under　the
mouths　of　ten　pieces　of　artillery；　loaded　with　grapeshot。　　In　none　of　his
battles　did　Napoleon　ever　imagine　himself　to　be　in　so　much　danger　as　at
the　entrance　into　Grenoble。　　The　soldiers　seemed　to　turn　upon　him　with
furious　gestures：　for　a　moment　it　might　be　supposed　that　they　were　going
to　tear　him　to　pieces。　　But　these　were　the　suppressed　transports　of　love
and　joy。　　The　Emperor　and　his　horse　were　both　borne　along　by　the
multitude；　and　he　had　scarcely　time　to　breathe　in　the　inn　where　he
alighted　when　an　increased　tumult　was　heard　without；　the　inhabitants　of
Grenoble　came　to　offer　him　the　broken　gates　of　the　city；　since　they　could
not　present　him　with　the　keys。

From　Grenoble　to　Paris　Napoleon　found　no　further　opposition。　　During　the
four　days　of　his　stay　at　Lyons；　where　he　had　arrived　on　the　10th；　there
were　continually　upwards　of　20；000　people　assembled　before　his　windows；
whose　acclamations　were　unceasing。　　It　would　never　have　been　supposed
that　the　Emperor　had　even　for　a　moment　been　absent　from　the；　country。
He　issued　orders；　signed　decrees；　reviewed　the　troops；　as　if　nothing　had
happened。　　The　military　corps；　the　public　bodies；　and　all　classes　of
citizens；　eagerly　came　forward　to　tender　their　homage　and　their　services。
The　Comte　d'Artois；　who　had　hastened　to　Lyons；　as　the　Duc　and　Duchesse
d'Augouleme　had　done　to　Bourdeaux；　like　them　in　vain　attempted　to　make　a
stand。　　The　Mounted　National　Guard　（who　were　known　Royalists）　deserted
him　at　this　crisis；　and　in　his　flight　only　one　of　them　chose　to　follow
him。　　Bonaparte　refused　their　services　when　offered　to　him；　and　with　a
chivalrous　feeling　worthy　of　being　recorded　sent　the　decoration　of　the
Legion　of　Honour　to　the　single　volunteer　who　had　thus　shown　his　fidelity
by　following　the　Duke。

As　soon　as　t