napoleon bonaparte, v7-第6部分

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remained　unshaken。　　As　he　was　being　conducted　to　the　place　where　he　was
to　be　shot；　some　one　having　told　him　that　peace　had　just　been　concluded；
he　cried　in　a　loud　voice；　〃Long　live　liberty！　　Long　live　Germany！　　〃
These　were　his　last　words。




CHAPTER　XVII。

During　his　stay　at　Schoenbrunn　the　Emperor　was　constantly　engaged　in
gallant　adventures。　　He　was　one　day　promenading　on　the　Prater　in　Vienna；
with　a　very　numerous　suite　（the　Prater　is　a　handsome　promenade　situated
in　the　Faubourg　Leopold）；　when　a　young　German；　widow　of　a　rich　merchant；
saw　him；　and　exclaimed　involuntarily　to　the　ladies　promenading　with　her；
〃It　is　he！〃　　This　exclamation　was　overheard　by　his　Majesty；　who　stopped
short；　and　bowed　to　the　ladies　with　a　smile；　while　the　one　who　had　spoken
blushed　crimson；　the　Emperor　comprehended　this　unequivocal　sign；　looked
at　her　steadfastly；　and　then　continued　his　walk。

For　sovereigns　there　are　neither　long　attacks　nor　great　difficulties；　and
this　new　conquest　of　his　Majesty　was　not　less　rapid　than　the　others。　　In
order　not　to　be　separated　from　her　illustrious　lover；　Madame　B
followed　the　army　to　Bavaria；　and　afterwards　came　to　him　at　Paris；　where
she　died　in　1812。

His　Majesty's　attention　was　attracted　by　a　charming　young　person　one
morning　in　the　suburbs　of　Schoenbrunn；　and　some　one　was　ordered　to　see
this　young　lady；　and　arrange　for　a　rendezvous　at　the　chateau　the
following　evening。　　Fortune　favored　his　Majesty　on　this　occasion。　　The
eclat　of　so　illustrious　a　name；　and　the　renown　of　his　victories；　had
produced　a　deep　impression　on　the　mind　of　the　young　girl；　and　had
disposed　her　to　listen　favorably　to　the　propositions　made　to　her。　　She
therefore　eagerly　consented　to　meet　him　at　the　chateau；　and　at　the
appointed　hour　the　person　of　whom　I　have　spoken　came　for　her；　and　I
received　her　on　her　arrival；　and　introduced　her　to　his　Majesty。　　She　did
not　speak　French；　but　she　knew　Italian　well；　and　it　was　consequently　easy
for　the　Emperor　to　converse　with　her；　and　he　soon　learned　with
astonishment　that　this　charming　young　lady　belonged　to　a　very　honorable
family　of　Vienna；　and　that　in　coming　to　him　that　evening　she　was　inspired
alone　by　a　desire　to　express　to　him　her　sincere　admiration。　　The　Emperor
respected　the　innocence　of　the　young　girl；　had　her　reconducted　to　her
parents'　residence；　and　gave　orders　that　a　marriage　should　be　arranged
for　her；　and　that　it　should　be　rendered　more　advantageous　by　means　of　a
considerable　dowry。

At　Schoenbrunn；　as　at　Paris；　his　Majesty　dined　habitually　at　six　o'clock；
but　since　he　worked　sometimes　very　far　into　the　night；　care　was　taken　to
prepare　every　evening　a　light　supper；　which　was　placed　in　a　little　locked
basket　covered　with　oil…cloth。　　There　were　two　keys　to　this　basket；　one
of　which　the　steward　kept；　and　I　the　other。　　The　care　of　this　basket
belonged　to　me　alone；　and　as　his　Majesty　was　extremely　busy；　he　hardly
ever　asked　for　supper。　　One　evening　Roustan；　who　had　been　busily　occupied
all　day　in　his　master's　service；　was　in　a　little　room　next　to　the
Emperor's；　and　meeting　me　just　after　I　had　assisted　in　putting　his
Majesty　to　bed；　said　to　me　in　his　bad　French；　looking　at　the　basket　with
an　envious　eye；　〃I　could　eat　a　chicken　wing　myself；　I　am　very　hungry。〃
I　refused　at　first；　but　finally；　as　I　knew　that　the　Emperor　had　gone　to
bed；　and　had　no　idea　he　would　take　a　fancy　to　ask　me　for　supper　that
evening；　I　let　Roustan　have　it。　　He；　much　delighted；　began　with　a　leg；
and　next　took　a　wing；　and　I　do　not　know　if　any　of　the　chicken　would　have
been　left　had　I　not　suddenly　heard　the　bell　ring　sharply。　　I　entered　the
room；　and　was　shocked　to　hear　the　Emperor　say　to　me；　〃Constant；　my
chicken。〃　　My　embarrassment　may　be　imagined。　　I　had　no　other　chicken；　and
by　what　means；　at　such　an　hour；　could　I　procure　one！　　At　last　I　decided
what　to　do。　　It　was　best　to　cut　up　the　fowl；　as　thus　I　would　be　able　to
conceal　the　absence　of　the　two　limbs　Roustan　had　eaten；　so　I　entered
proudly　with　the　chicken　replaced　on　the　dish　Roustan　following　me；　for　I
was　very　willing；　if　there　were　any　reproaches；　to　share　them　with　him。
I　picked　up　the　remaining　wing；　and　presented　it　to　the　Emperor；　but　he
refused　it；　saying　to　me；　〃Give　me　the　chicken；　I　will　choose　for
myself。〃　　This　time　there　was　no　means　of　saving　ourselves；　for　the
dismembered　chicken　must　pass　under　his　Majesty's　eyes。　　〃See　here；〃　said
he；　〃since　when　did　chickens　begin　to　have　only　one　wing　and　one　leg？
That　is　fine；　it　seems　that　I　must　eat　what　others　leave。　　Who；　then；
eats　half　of　my　supper？〃　　I　looked　at　Roustan；　who　in　confusion　replied；
〃I　was　very　hungry；　Sire；　and　I　ate　a　wing　and　leg。〃〃What；　you　idiot！
so　it　was　you；　was　it？〃

〃Ah；　I　will　punish　you　for　it。〃　　And　without　another　word　the　Emperor　ate
the　remaining　leg　and　wing。

The　next　day　at　his　toilet　he　summoned　the　grand　marshal　for　some
purpose；　and　during　the　conversation　said；　〃I　leave　you　to　guess　what　I
ate　last　night　for　my　supper。　　The　scraps　which　M。　Roustan　left。　　Yes；
the　wretch　took　a　notion　to　eat　half　of　my　chicken。〃　　Roustan　entered　at
that　moment。　　〃Come　here；　you　idiot；〃　continued　the　Emperor；　〃and　the
next　time　this　happens；　be　sure　you　will　pay　for　it。〃　　Saying　this；　he
seized　him　by　the　ears　and　laughed　heartily。




CHAPTER　XVIII。

On　the　22d　of　May；　ten　days　after　the　triumphant　entry　of　the　Emperor
into　the　Austrian　capital；　the　battle　of　Essling　took　place；　a　bloody
combat　lasting　from　four　in　the　morning　till　six　in　the　evening。　　This
battle　was　sadly　memorable　to　all　the　old　soldiers　of　the　Empire；　since
it　cost　the　life　of　perhaps　the　bravest　of　them　all；the　Duke　of
Montebello；　the　devoted　friend　of　the　Emperor；　the　only　one　who　shared
with　Marshal　Augereau　the　right　to　speak　to　him　frankly　face　to　face。

The　evening　before　the　battle　the　marshal　entered　his　Majesty's
residence；　and　found　him　surrounded　by　several　persons。　　The　Duke　of
always　undertook　to　place　himself　between　the　Emperor　and　persons　who
wished　to　speak　with　him。　　The　Duke　of　Montebello；　seeing　him　play　his
usual　game；　took　him　by　the　lappet　of　his　coat；　and；　wheeling　him　around；
said　to　him：　〃Take　yourself　away　from　here！　　The　Emperor　does　not　need
you　to　stand　guard。　　It　is　singular　that　on　the　field　of　battle　you　are
always　so　far　from　us　that　we　cannot　see　you；　while　here　we　can　say
nothing　to　the　Emperor　without　your　being　in　the　way。〃　　The　duke　was
furious。　　He　looked　first　at　the　marshal；　then　at　the　Emperor；　who　simply
said；　〃Gently　Lannes。〃

That　evening　in　the　domestic　apartments　they　were　discussing　this
apostrophe　of　the　marshal's。　　An　officer　of　the　army　of　Egypt　said　that
he　was　not　surprised；　since　the　Duke　of　Montebello　had　never　forgiven　the
Duke　of　　for　the　three　hundred　sick　persons　poisoned　at　Jaffa。

Dr。　Lannefranque；　one　of　those　who　attended　the　unfortunate　Duke　of
Montebello；　said　that　as　he　was　mounting　his　horse　on　starting　to　the
island　of　Lobau；　the　duke　was　possessed　by　gloomy　presentiments。　　He
paused　a　moment；　took　M。　Lannefranque's　hand；　and　pressed　it；　saying　to
him　with　a　sad　smile；　〃Au　revoir；　you　will　soon　see　us　again；　perhaps。
There　will　be　work　for　you　and　for　those　gentlemen　to…day；〃　pointing　to
several　surgeons　and　doctors　standing　near。　　〃M。　le　Duc；〃　replied
Lannefranque；　〃this　day　will　add　yet　more　to　your　glory。〃〃My　glory；〃
interrupted　the　marshal　eagerly；　〃do　you　wish　me　to　speak　frankly？　　I　do
not　approve　very　highly　of　this　affair；　and；　moreover；　whatever　may　be
the　issue；　this　will　be　my　last　battle。〃　　The　doctor　wished　to　ask　the
marshal　his　reasons　for　this　conviction；　but　he　set　off　at　a　gallop；　and
was　soon　out　of　sight。

On　the　morning　of　the　battle；　about　six　or　seven　o'clock；　the　Austrians
had　already　advanced；　when　an　aide…de…camp　came　to　announce　to　his
Majesty　that　a　sudden　rise　in　the　Danube　had　washed　down　a　great　number
of　large　trees　which　had　been　cut　down　when　Vienna　was　taken；　and　that
these　trees　had　driven　against　and　broken　the　bridges　which　served　as
communication　between　Essling　and　the　island　of　Lobau；　and　in　consequence
of　this　the　reserve　corps；　part　of　the　heavy　cavalry；　and　Marshal
Davoust's　entire　corps；　found　themselves　forced　to　remain　inactive　on　the
other　side。　　This　misfortune　arrested　the　movement　which　the　Emperor　was
preparing　to　make；　and　the　enemy　took　courage。

The　Duke　of　Montebello　received　orders　to　hold　the　field　of　battle；　and
took　his　position；　resting　on　the　village　of　Essling；　instead　of
continuing　the　pursuit　of　the　Austrians　which　he　had　already　begun；　and
held　this　position　from　nine　o'clock　in　the　morning　till　the　evening；　and
at　seven　o'clock　in　the　evening　the　battle　was　gained。　　At　six　o'clock
the　unfortunate　marshal；　while　standing　on　an　elevation　to　obtain　a
better　view　of　the　movements；　was　struck　by　a　cannon…ball；　which　broke
his　right　thigh　and　his　left　knee。

He　thought　at　first　that　he　had　only　a　few　moments　to　live；　and　had
himself　carried　on　a　litter　to　the　Emperor；　saying　that　he　wished　to
embrace　him　before　he　died。　　The　Emperor；　seeing　him　thus　weltering　in
his　blood；　had　the　litter　placed　on　the　ground；　and；　throwing　himself　on
his　knees；　took　the　marshal　in　his　arms；　and　said　to　him；　weeping；
〃Lannes；　do　you　know　me？〃〃Yes；　Sire；　you　are　losing　your　best　friend。〃
〃No　！　　no！　　you　will　live。　　Can　you　not　answer　for　his　life；　M。
Larrey？〃　　The　wounded　soldiers　hearing　his　Majesty　speak　thus；　tried　to
rise　on　their　elbows；　and　cried；　〃Vive　l'Empereur！〃

The　surgeons　carried　the　marshal　to　a　little　village　called　Ebersdorf；　on
the　bank　of　the　river；　and　near　the　field　of　battle。　　At　the　house　of　a
brewer　they　found　a　room　over　a　stable　where　the　heat　was　stifling；　and
was　rendered　still　more　unendurable　from　the　odor　of　the　corpses　by　which
the　house　was　surrounded。

But　as　no　other　place　could　be　found；　it　was　necessary　to　make　the　best
of　it。　　The　marshal　bore　the　amputation　of　his　limb　with　heroic　courage；
but　the　fever　which　came　on　immediately　was　so　violent　that；　fearing　he
would　die　under　the　operation；　the　surgeons　postponed　cutting　off　his
other　leg。　　This　fever　was　caused　partly　by　exhaustion；　for　at　the　time
he　was　wound