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memoirs of napoleon bonaparte, v11-第11部分

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throne of Spain on Joseph; she was seized with a feeling of indescribable
alarm。  It would be difficult to define that instinctive feeling which
leads us to foresee the future; but it is a fact that Josephine was
endowed with this faculty in a more perfect decree than any other person
I have ever known; and to her it was a fatal gift; for she suffered at
the same time under the weight of present and of future misfortunes。

I often visited her at Malmaison; as Duroc assured me that the Emperor
had no objection to my doing so; yet he must have been fully aware that
when Josephine and I were in confidential conversation he would not
always be mentioned in terms of unqualified eulogy; and in truth; his
first friend and his first wife might well be excused for sometimes
commingling their complaints。

Though more than a twelvemonth had elapsed since the divorce grief still
preyed on the heart of Josephine。  〃You cannot conceive; my friend;〃 she
often said to me; 〃all the torments that I have suffered since that fatal
day!  I cannot imagine how I survived it。  You cannot figure to yourself
the pain I endure on seeing descriptions of his fetes everywhere。  And
the first time he came to visit me after his marriage; what a meeting was
that!  How many tears I shed!  The days on which he comes are to me days
of misery; for he spares me not。  How cruel to speak of his expected
heir。  Bourrienne; you cannot conceive how heart…rending all this is to
me!  Better; far better to be exiled a thousand leagues from hence!
However;〃 added Josephine; 〃a few friends still remain faithful in my
changed fortune; and that is now the only thing which affords me even
temporary consolation。〃  The truth is that she was extremely unhappy; and
the most acceptable consolation her friends could offer her was to weep
with her。  Yet such was still Josephine's passion for dress; that after。
having wept for a quarter of an hour she would dry her tears to give
audience to milliners and jewellers。  The sight of a new hat would call
forth all Josephine's feminine love of finery。  One day I remember that;
taking advantage of the momentary serenity occasioned by an ample display
of sparkling gewgaws; I congratulated her upon the happy influence they
exercised over her spirits; when she said; 〃My dear friend; I ought;
indeed; to be indifferent to all this; but it is a habit。〃  Josephine
might have added that it was also an occupation; for it would be no
exaggeration to say that if the time she wasted in tears and at her
toilet had been subtracted from her life its duration would have been
considerably shortened。

The vast extent of the French Empire now presented a spectacle which
resembled rather the dominion of the Romans and the conquests of
Charlemagne than the usual form and political changes of modern Europe。
In fact; for nearly two centuries; until the period of the Revolution;
and particularly until the elevation of Napoleon; no remarkable changes
had taken place in the boundaries of European States; if we except the
partition of Poland; when two of the co…partitioners committed the error
of turning the tide of Russia towards the west!  Under Napoleon
everything was overturned with astonishing rapidity: customs; manners;
laws; were superseded

     'The so…called 〃French〃 armies of the time; drawn from all parts
     of the Empire and from the dependent States; represented the
     extraordinary fusion attempted by Napoleon。  Thus; at the battle of
     Ocana there were at least troops of the following States; viz。
     Warsaw; Holland; Baden; Nassau; Hesse…Darmstadt; Frankfort; besides
     the Spaniards in Joseph's service。  A Spanish division went to
     Denmark; the regiment from Isembourg was sent to Naples; while the
     Neapolitans crossed to Spain。  Even the little Valais had to furnish
     a battalion。  Blacks from San Domingo served in Naples; while
     sixteen nations; like so many chained dogs; advanced into Russia。
     Such troops could not have the spirit of a homogeneous army。

     Already; in 1808; Metternich had written from Paris to his Court;
     〃It is no longer the nation that fights: the present war (Spain) is
     Napoleon's war; it is not even that of his army。〃  But Napoleon
     himself was aware of the danger of the Empire from its own extent。
     In the silence of his cabinet his secretary Meneval sometimes heard
     him murmur; 〃L'arc est trop longtemps tendu。〃'

by new customs; new manners; and new laws; imposed by force; and forming
a heterogeneous whole; which could not fail to dissolve; as soon as the
influence of the power which had created it should cease to operate。
Such was the state of Italy that I have been informed by an individual
worthy of credit that if the army of Prince Eugene; instead of being
victorious; had been beaten on the Piava; a deeply…organised revolution
would have broken out in Piedmont; and even in the Kingdom of Italy;
where; nevertheless; the majority of the people fully appreciated the
excellent qualities of Eugene。  I have been also credibly informed that
lists were in readiness designating those of the French who were to be
put to death; as well as those by whom the severe orders of the Imperial
Government   had been mitigated; and who were only to be banished。  In
fact; revolt was as natural to the Italians as submission to the Germans;
and as the fury of despair to the Spanish nation。  On this subject I may
cite an observation contained in one of the works of Alfieri; published
fifteen years before the Spanish war。  Taking a cursory view of the
different European nations he regardedthe Spaniards as the only people
possessed of 〃sufficient energy to struggle against foreign usurpation。〃
Had I still been near the person of Napoleon I would most assuredly have
resorted to an innocent artifice; which I had several times employed; and
placed the work of Alfieri on his table open at the page I wished him to
read。  Alfieri's opinion of the Spanish people was in the end fully
verified; and I confess I cannot think without shuddering of the torrents
of blood which inundated the Peninsula; and for what?  To make Joseph
Bonaparte a King!

The commencement of 1811 was sufficiently favourable to the French arms
in Spain; but towards the beginning of March the aspect of affairs
changed。  The Duke of Belluno; notwithstanding the valour of his troops;
was unsuccessful at Chiclana; and from that day the French army could not
make head against the combined forces of England and Portugal。  Even
Massena; notwithstanding the title of Prince of Eslingen (or Essling);
which he had won under the walls of Vienna; was no longer 〃the favourite
child of victory〃 as he had been at Zurich。

Having mentioned Massena I may observe that he did not favour the change
of the French Government on the foundation of the Empire。  Massena loved
two things; glory and money; but as to what is termed honours; he only
valued those which resulted from the command of an army; and his
recollections all bound him to the Republic; because the Republic
recalled to his mind the most brilliant and glorious events of his
military career。  He was; besides; among the number of the Marshals who
wished to see a limit put to the ambition of Bonaparte; and he had
assuredly done enough; since the commencement of the wars of the
Republic; to be permitted to enjoy some repose; which his health at that
period required。  What could he achieve against the English in Portugal?
The combined forces of England and Portugal daily augmented; while ours
diminished。  No efforts were spared by England to gain a superiority in
the great struggle in which she was engaged; as her money was lavished
profusely; her troops paid well wherever they went; and were abundantly
supplied with ammunition and provisions: the French army was compelled;
though far from possessing such ample means; to purchase at the same high
rate; in order to keep the natives from joining the English party。  But
even this did not prevent numerous partial insurrections in different
places; which rendered all communication with France extremely difficult。
Armed bands continually carried off our dispersed soldiers; and the
presence of the British troops; supported by the money they spent in the
country; excited the inhabitants against us; for it is impossible to
suppose that; unsupported by the English; Portugal could have held out a
single moment against France。  But battles; bad weather; and even want;
had so reduced the French force that it was absolutely necessary our
troops should repose when their enterprises could lead to no results。
In this state of things Massena was recalled; because his health was so
materially injured as to render it impossible for him to exert sufficient
activity to restore the army to a respectable footing。

Under these circumstances Bonaparte sent Bertrand into Illyria to take
the place of Marmont; who was ordered in his turn to relieve Massena and
take command of the French army in Portugal Marmont on assuming the
command found the troops in a deplorable state。  The difficulty of
procuring provisions was extreme; and the means he was compelled to
employ for that purpose greatly heightened the evil; at the same time
insubordination and want of discipline prevailed to such an alarming
degree that it would be as difficult as painful to depict the situation
of our army at this period; Marmont; by his steady conduct; fortunately
succeeded in correcting the disorders which prevailed; and very soon
found himself at the head of a well…organised army; amounting to 30;000
infantry; with forty pieces of artillery; but he had only a very small
body of cavalry; and those ill…mounted。

Affairs in Spain at the commencement of 1811 exhibited an aspect not very
different from those of Portugal。  At first we were uniformly successful;
but our advantages were so dearly purchased that the ultimate issue of
this struggle might easily have been foreseen; because when a people
fight for their homes and their liberties the invading army must
gradually diminish; while at the same time the armed population;
emboldened by success; increases in a still mor
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