napoleon bonaparte, v7-第4部分

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wrote　to　the　archduke　by　the　Prince　of　Neuchatel　the　following　letter；　a
copy　of　which　accidentally　fell　into　my　hands：

　　　　　〃The　Prince　de　Neuchatel　to　his　Highness　the　Archduke　Maximilian；
　　　　　commanding　the　town　of　Vienna；

　　　　　〃His　Majesty　the　Emperor　and　King　desires　to　spare　this　large　and
　　　　　worthy　population　the　calamities　with　which　it　is　threatened；　and
　　　　　charges　me　to　represent　to　your　Highness；　that　if　he　continues　the
　　　　　attempt　to　defend　this　place；　it　will　cause　the　destruction　of　one
　　　　　of　the　finest　cities　of　Europe。　　In　every　country　where　he　has　waged
　　　　　war；　my　sovereign　has　manifested　his　anxiety　to　avoid　the　disasters
　　　　　which　armies　bring　on　the　population。　　Your　Highness　must　be
　　　　　persuaded　that　his　Majesty　is　much　grieved　to　see　this　town；　which
　　　　　he　has　the　glory　of　having　already　saved；　on　the　point　of　being
　　　　　destroyed。　　Nevertheless；　contrary　to　the　established　usage　of
　　　　　fortresses；　your　Highness　has　fired　your　cannon　from　the　city　walls；
　　　　　and　these　cannon　may　kill；　not　an　enemy　of　your　sovereign；　but　the
　　　　　wives　or　children　of　his　most　devoted　servants。　　If　your　Highness
　　　　　prolongs　the　attempt　to　defend　the　place；　his　Majesty　will　be
　　　　　compelled　to　begin　his　preparations　for　attack；　and　the　ruin　of　this
　　　　　immense　capital　will　be　consummated　in　thirty…six　hours；　by　the
　　　　　shells　and　bombs　from　our　batteries；　as　the　outskirts　of　the　town
　　　　　will　be　destroyed　by　the　effect　of　yours。　　His　Majesty　does　not
　　　　　doubt　that　these　considerations　will　influence　your　Highness　to
　　　　　renounce　a　determination　which　will　only　delay　for　a　short　while　the
　　　　　capture　of　the　place。　　If；　however；　your　Highness　has　decided　not　to
　　　　　pursue　a　course　which　will　save　the　town　from　destruction；　its
　　　　　population　plunged　by　your　fault　into　such　terrible　misfortunes　will
　　　　　become；　instead　of　faithful　subjects；　the　enemies　of　your　house。〃

This　letter　did　not　deter　the　grand　duke　from　persisting　in　his　defense；
and　this　obstinacy　exasperated　the　Emperor　to　such　a　degree　that　he　at
last　gave　orders　to　place　two　batteries　in　position；　and　within　an　hour
cannonballs　and　shells　rained　upon　the　town。　　The　inhabitants；　with　true
German　indifference；　assembled　on　the　hillsides　to　watch　the　effect　of
the　fires　of　attack　and　defense；　and　appeared　much　interested　in　the
sight。　　A　few　cannonballs　had　already　fallen　in　the　court　of　the　Imperial
palace　when　a　flag　of　truce　came　out　of　the　town　to　announce　that　the
Archduchess　Marie　Louise　had　been　unable　to　accompany　her　father；　and　was
ill　in　the　palace；　and　consequently　exposed　to　danger　from　the　artillery；
and　the　Emperor　immediately　gave　orders　to　change　the　direction　of　the
firing　so　that　the　bombs　and　balls　would　pass　over　the　palace。　　The
archduke　did　not　long　hold　out　against　such　a　sharp　and　energetic　attack；
but　fled；　abandoning　Vienna　to　the　conquerors。

On　the　12th　of　May　the　Emperor　made　his　entrance　into　Vienna；　one　month
after　the　occupation　of　Munich　by　the　Austrians。　　This　circumstance　made
a　deep　impression；　and　did　much　to　foster　the　superstitious　ideas　which
many　of　the　troops　held　in　regard　to　the　person　of　their　chief。　　〃See；〃
said　one；　〃he　needed　only　the　time　necessary　for　the　journey。　　That　man
must　be　a　god。〃〃He　is　a　devil　rather；〃　said　the　Austrians；　whose
stupefaction　was　indescribable。　　They　had　reached　a　point　when　many
allowed　the　arms　to　be　taken　out　of　their　hands　without　making　the　least
resistance；　or　without　even　attempting　to　fly；　so　deep　was　their
conviction　that　the　Emperor　and　his　guard　were　not　men；　and　that　sooner
or　later　they　must　fall　into　the　power　of　these　supernatural　enemies。




CHAPTER　XV。

The　Emperor　did　not　remain　in　Vienna；　but　established　his　headquarters　at
the　chateau　of　Schoenbrunn；　an　imperial　residence　situated　about　half　a
league　from　the　town；　and　the　ground　in　front　of　the　chateau　was　arranged
for　the　encampment　of　the　guard。　　The　chateau　of　Schoenbrunn；　erected　by
the　Empress　Maria　Theresa　in　1754；　and　situated　in　a　commanding　position；
is　built　in　a　very　irregular；　and　defective；　but　at　the　same　time
majestic；　style　of　architecture。　　In　order　to　reach　it；　there　has　been
thrown　over　the　little　river；　la　Vienne；　a　broad　and　well…constructed
bridge；　ornamented　with　four　stone　sphinxes；　and　in　front　of　the　bridge
is　a　large　iron　gate；　opening　on　an　immense　court；　in　which　seven　or
eight　thousand　men　could　be　drilled。　　This　court　is　square；　surrounded　by
covered　galleries；　and　ornamented　with　two　large　basins　with　marble
statues；　and　on　each　side　of　the　gateway　are　two　large　obelisks　in　rose…
colored　stone；　surmounted　by　eagles　of　gilded　lead。

'Schoenbrunn'；　in　German；　signifies　beautiful　fountain；　　and　this　name
comes　from　a　clear　and　limpid　spring；　which　rises　in　a　grove　in　the　park；
on　a　slight　elevation；　around　which　has　been　built　a　little　pavilion；
carved　on　the　inside　to　imitate　stalactites。　　In　this　pavilion　lies　a
sleeping　Naiad；　holding　in　her　hand　a　shell；　from　which　the　water　gushes
and　falls　into　a　marble　basin。　　This　is　a　delicious　retreat　in　summer。

We　can　speak　only　in　terms　of　admiration　regarding　the　interior　of　the
palace；　the　furniture　of　which　was　handsome　and　of　an　original　and
elegant　style。　　The　Emperor's　sleeping…room；　the　only　part　of　the
building　in　which　there　was　a　fireplace；　was　ornamented　with　wainscoting
in　Chinese　lacquer　work；　then　very　old；　though　the　painting　and　gilding
were　still　fresh；　and　the　cabinet　was　decorated　like　the　bedroom；　and　all
the　apartments；　except　this；　were　warmed　in　winter　by　immense　stoves；
which　greatly　injured　the　effect　of　the　interior　architecture。　　Between
the　study　and　the　Emperor's　room　was　a　very　curious　machine；　called　the
flying　chariot；　a　kind　of　mechanical　contrivance；　which　had　been　made　for
the　Empress　Maria　Theresa；　and　was　used　in　conveying　her　from　one　story
to　the　other；　so　that　she　might　not　be　obliged　to　ascend　and　descend
staircases　like　the　rest　of　the　world。　　This　machine　was　operated　by
means　of　cords；　pulleys；　and　weights；　like　those　at　the　theater。

The　beautiful　grove　which　serves　as　park　and　garden　to　the　palace　of
Schoenbrunn　is　much　too　small　to　belong　to　an　imperial　residence；　but；
on　the　other　hand；　it　would　be　hard　to　find　one　more　beautiful　or　better
arranged。　　The　park　of　Versailles　is　grander　and　more　imposing；　but　it
has　not　the　picturesque　irregularity；　the　fantastic　and　unexpected
beauties；　of　the　park　of　Schoenbrunn；　and　more　closely　resembles　the　park
at　Malmaison。　　In　front　of　the　interior　facade　of　the　palace　was　a
magnificent　lawn；　sloping　down　to　a　broad　lake；　decorated　with　a　group　of
statuary　representing　the　triumph　of　Neptune。　　This　group　is　very　fine；
but　French　amateurs　（every　Frenchman；　as　you　are　aware；　desires　to　be
considered　a　connoisseur）　insisted　that　the　women　were　more　Austrian　than
Grecian；　and　that　they　did　not　possess　the　slender　grace　belonging　to
antique　forms；　and；　for　my　part；　I　must　confess　that　these　statues　did
not　appear　to　me　very　remarkable。

At　the　end　of　the　grand　avenue；　and　bounding　the　horizon；　rose　a　hill；
which　overlooked　the　park；　and　was　crowned　by　a　handsome　building；　which
bore　the　name　of　la　Gloriette。　　This　building　was　a　circular　gallery；
inclosed　with　glass；　supported　by　a　charming　colonnade；　between　the
arches　of　which　hung　various　trophies。　　On　entering　the　avenue　from　the
direction　of　Vienna；　la　Gloriette　rose　at　the　farther　end；　seeming　almost
to　form　a　part　of　the　palace；　and　the　effect　was　very　fine。

What　the　Austrians　especially　admired　in　the　palace　of　Schoenbrunn　was　a
grove；　containing　what　they　called　the　Ruins；　and　a　lake　with　a　fountain
springing　from　the　midst；　and　several　small　cascades　flowing　from　it；　by
this　lake　were　the　ruins　of　an　aqueduct　and　a　temple；　fallen　vases；
tombs；　broken　bas…reliefs；　statues　without　heads；　arms；　or　limbs；　while
limbs；　arms；　and　heads　lay　thickly　scattered　around；　columns　mutilated
and　half…buried；　others　standing　and　supporting　the　remains　of　pediments
and　entablatures；　all　combining　to　form　a　scene　of　beautiful　disorder；
and　representing　a　genuine　ancient　ruin　when　viewed　from　a　short
distance。　　Viewed　more　closely；　it　is　quite　another　thing：　the　hand　of
the　modern　sculptor　is　seen；　it　is　evident　that　all　these　fragments　are
made　from　the　same　kind　of　stone；　and　the　weeds　which　grow　in　the　hollows
of　these　columns　appear　what　they　really　are；　that　is　to　say；　made　of
stone；　and　painted　to　imitate　verdure。

But　if　the　productions　of　art　scattered　through　the　park　of　Schoenbrunn
were　not　all　irreproachable；　those　of　nature　fully　made　up　the
deficiency。　　What　magnificent　trees！　　What　thick　hedges！　　What　dense　and
refreshing　shade！　　The　avenues　were　remarkably　high　and　broad；　and
bordered　with　trees；　which　formed　a　vault　impenetrable　to　the　sun；　while
the　eye　lost　itself　in　their　many　windings；　from　these　other　smaller
walks　diverged；　where　fresh　surprises　were　in　store　at　every　step。　　At
the　end　of　the　broadest　of　these　was　placed　the　menagerie；　which　was　one
of　the　most　extensive　and　varied　in　Europe；　and　its　construction；　which
was　very　ingenious；　might　well　serve　as　a　model；　it　was　shaped　like　a
star；　and　in　the　round　center　of　this　star　had　been　erected　a　small　but
very　elegant　kiosk；　placed　there　by　the　Empress　Maria　Theresa　as　a
resting…place　for　herself；　and　from　which　the　whole　menagerie　could　be
viewed　at　leisure。

Each　point　of　this　star　formed　a　separate　garden；　where　there　could　be
seen　elephants；　buffaloes；　camels；　dromedaries；　stags；　and　kangaroos
grazing；　handsome　and　substantial　cages　held　tigers；　bears；　leopards；
lions；　hyenas；　etc；　and　swans　and　rare　aquatic　birds　and　amphibious
animals　sported　in　basins　surrounded　by　iron　gratings。　　In　this　menagerie
I　specially　remarked　a　very　extraordinary　animal；　which　his　Majesty　had
ordered　brought　to　France；　but　which　had　died　the　day　before　it　was　to
have　started。　　This　animal　was　from　Poland；　and　was　called　a　'curus'；　it
was　a　kind　of　ox；　though　much　larger　than　an　ordinary　ox；　with　a　mane
like　a　lion；　horns　rather　short　and　somewhat　curved；　and　enormously　large
at　the　base