napoleon bonaparte, v8-第15部分

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magnificent　solitude　which　we　call　Versailles；　had　been　populated
suddenly　by　the　capital。　　The　private　houses　could　not　contain　the　crowd
which　arrived　from　every　direction。　　The　park　was　inundated　with　a
multitude　of　promenaders　of　every　sex　and　all　ages；　in　these　immense
avenues　one　walked　on　foot；　one　needed　air　on　this　vast　plateau　which　was
so　airy；　one　felt　cramped　on　this　theater　of　a　great　public　fete；　as　at
balls　given　in　those　little　saloons　of　Paris　built　for　about　a　dozen
persons；　and　where　fashion　crams　together　a　hundred　and　fifty。

Great　preparations　had　been　made　for　four　or　five　days　in　the　delightful
gardens　of　Trianon；　but　the　evening　before；　the　sky　became　cloudy；　and
many　toilets　which　had　been　eagerly　prepared　were　prudently　laid　aside；
but　the　next　day　a　beautiful　blue　sky　reassured　every　one；　and　they　set
out　for　Trianon　in　spite　of　the　recollections　of　the　storm　which　had
dispersed　the　spectators　at　the　fete　of　Saint　Cloud。　　Nevertheless；　at
three　o'clock　a　heavy　shower　made　every　one　fear　for　a　short　while　that
the　evening　might　end　badly。　　〃Afternoon　shower　making　its　obeisance；〃　as
the　proverb　says；　but；　on　the　contrary；　this　only　made　the　fete
pleasanter；　by　refreshing　the　scorching　air　of　August；　and　laying　the
dust　which　was　most　disagreeable。　　At　six　o'clock　the　sun　had　reappeared；
and　the　summer　of　1811　had　no　softer　or　more　agreeable　evening。

All　the　outlines　of　the　architecture　of　the　Grand　Trianon　were　ornamented
with　lamps　of　different　colors。　　In　the　gallery　could　be　seen　six　hundred
women；　brilliant　with　youth　and　adornments；　and　the　Empress　addressed
gracious　words　to　several　among　them；　and　all　were　charmed　by　the　cordial
and　affable　manners　of　a　young　princess　who　had　lived　in　France　only
fifteen　months。

At　this　fete；　as　at　all　the　fetes　of　the　Empire；　there　were　not　wanting
poets　to　sing　praises　of　those　in　whose　honor　they　were　given。　　There　was
a　play　which　had　been　composed　for　the　occasion；　the　author　of　which　I
remember　perfectly　was　M。　Alissan　de　Chazet；　but　I　have　forgotten　the
title。　　At　the　end　of　the　piece；　the　principal　artists　of　the　opera
executed　a　ballet　which　was　considered　very　fine。　　When　the　play　was
over；　their　Majesties　commenced　a　promenade　in　the　park　of　the　Petit…
Trianon；　the　Emperor；　hat　in　hand；　giving　his　arm　to　the　Empress；　and
being　followed　by　all　his　court。　　They　first　visited　the　Isle　of　Love；
and　found　all　the　enchantments　of　fairyland　and　its　illusions　there
united。　　The　temple；　situated　in　the　midst　of　the　lake；　was　splendidly。
illuminated；　and　the　water　reflected　its　columns　of　fire。　　A　multitude　of
beautiful　boats　furrowed　this　lake；　which　seemed　on　fire；　manned　by　a
swarm　of　Cupids；　who　appeared　to　sport　with　each　other　in　the　rigging。
Musicians　concealed　on　board　played　melodious　airs；　and　this　harmony；　at
once　gentle　and　mysterious；　which　seemed　to　spring　from　the　bosom　of　the
waves；　added　still　more　to　the　magic　of　the　picture　and　the　charms　of　the
illusion。　　To　this　spectacle　succeeded　scenes　of　another　kind；　taken　from
rural　life；a　Flemish　living　picture；　with　its　pleasant…faced；　jolly
people；　and　its　rustic　ease；　and　groups　of　inhabitants　from　every
province　of　France；　giving　an　impression　that　all　parts　of　the　Empire
were　convened　at　this　fete。　　In　fine；　a　wonderful　variety　of　attractions
in　turn　arrested　the　attention　of　their　Majesties。　　Arrived　at　the　saloon
of　Polhymnie；　they　were　welcomed　by　a　charming　choir；　the　music　composed；
I　think；　by　Paer；　and　the　words　by　the　same　M。　Alissan　de　Chazet。　　At
last；　after　a　magnificent　supper；　which　was　served　in　the　grand　gallery；
their　Majesties　retired　at　one　o'clock　in　the　morning。

There　was　only　one　opinion　in　this　immense　assembly　as　to　the　grace　and
perfect　dignity　of　Marie　Louise。　　This　young　princess　was　really
charming；　but　with　peculiarities　rather　than　traits　of　character。　　I
recall　some　occurrences　in　her　domestic　life　which　will　not　be　without
interest　to　the　reader。

Marie　Louise　talked　but　little　with　the　people　of　her　household；　but
whether　this　arose　from　a　habit　brought　with　her　from　the　Austrian　court；
whether　she　feared　to　compromise　her　dignity　by　her　foreign　accent　before
persons　of　inferior　condition；　or　whether　it　arose　from　timidity　or
indifference；　few　of　these　persons　could　remember　a　word　she　had　uttered。
I　have　heard　her　steward　say　that　in　three　years　she　spoke　to　him　only
once。

The　ladies　of　the　household　agreed　in　saying　that　in　private　she　was　kind
and　agreeable。　　She　did　not　like　Madame　de　Montesquieu。　　This　was　wrong；
since　there　were　no　cares；　endearments；　attentions　of　all　sorts；　which
Madame　de　Montesquieu　did　not　lavish　on　the　King　of　Rome。

The　Emperor；　however；　appreciated　highly　this　excellent　lady　who　was　so
perfect　in　every　respect。　　As　a　man　he　admired　the　dignity；　perfect
propriety；　and　extreme　discretion　of　Madame　de　Montesquieu；　and　as　a
father　he　felt　an　infinite　gratitude　for　the　cares　she　lavished　on　his
son。　　Each　one　explained　in　his　own　way　the　coolness　which　the　young
Empress　showed　to　this　lady；　and　there　were　several　reasons　assigned　for
this；　all　more　or　less　untrue；　though　the　leisure　moments　of　the　ladies
of　the　palace　were　much　occupied　with　it。　　What　appeared　to　me　the　most
likely　solution；　and　most　in　accordance　with　the　artless　simplicity　of
Marie　Louise；　was　this：　The　Empress　had　as　lady　of　honor　Madame　de
Montebello；　a　charming　woman　of　perfect　manners。　　Now；　there　was　little
friendship　between　Madame　de　Montesquieu　and　Madame　de　Montebello；　as　the
latter　feared　it　is　said　to　have　a　rival　in　the　heart　of　her　august
friend；　and；　in　fact；　Madame　de　Montesquieu　would　have　proved　a　most
dangerous　rival　for　this　lady；　as　she　combined　all　those　qualities　which
please　and　make　one　beloved。　　Born　of　an　illustrious　family；　she　had
received　a　distinguished　education；　and　united　the　tone　and　manners　of
the　best　society　with　a　solid　and　enlightened　piety。　　Never　had　calumny
dared　to　attack　her　conduct；　which　was　as　noble　as　discreet。　　I　must
admit　that　she　was　somewhat　haughty；　but　this　haughtiness　was　tempered　by
such　elegant　politeness；　and　such　gracious　consideration；　that　it　might
be　considered　simple　dignity。　　She　was　attentive　and　assiduous　in　her
devotion　to　the　King　of　Rome；　and　was　entitled　to　the　deep　gratitude　of
the　Empress；　for　she　afterwards；　actuated　by　the　most　generous　devotion；
tore　herself　from　her　country；　her　friends；　her　family；　to　follow　the
fate　of　a　child　whose　every　hope　was　blasted。

Madame　de　Montebello　was　accustomed　to　rise　late。　　In　the　morning　when
the　Emperor　was　absent；　Marie　Louise　went　to　converse　with　her　in　her
room；　and　in　order　not　to　go　through　the　saloon　where　the　ladies　of　the
palace　were　assembled；　she　entered　the　apartment　of　her　lady　of　honor
through　a　very　dark　closet；　and　this　conduct　deeply　wounded　the　feelings
of　the　other　ladies。　　I　have　heard　Josephine　say　that　Madame　de
Montebello　was　wrong　to　initiate　the　young　Empress　into　the　scandalous
adventures；　whether　true　or　false；　attributed　to　some　of　these　ladies；
and　which　a　young；　pure；　simple　woman　like　Marie　Louise　should　not　have
known；　and　that　this　was　one　cause　of　her　coldness　towards　the　ladies　of
her　court；　who　on　their　side　did　not　like　her；　and　confided　their
feelings　to　their　neighbors　and　friends。

Josephine　tenderly　loved　Madame　de　Montesquieu；　and　when　they　were　parted
wrote　to　her　often；　this　correspondence　lasted　till　Josephine's　death。
One　day　Madame　de　Montesquieu　received　orders　from　the　Emperor　to　take
the　little　king　to　Bagatelle；　where　Josephine　then　was。　　She　had　obtained
permission　to　see　this　child；　whose　birth　had　covered　Europe　with　fetes。
It　is　well　known　how　disinterested　Josephine's　love　for　Napoleon　was；　and
how　she　viewed　everything　that　could　increase　his　glory　and　render　it
more　durable；　and　there　entered　into　the　prayers　she　made　for　him　since
the　burning　disgrace　of　the　divorce；　even　the　hope　that　he　might　be　happy
in　his　private　life；　and　that　his　new　wife　might　bear　this　child；　this
firstborn　of　his　dynasty；　to　him　whom　she　herself　could　not　make　a
father。

This　woman　of　angelic　goodness；　who　had　fallen　into　a　long　swoon　on
learning　her　sentence　of　repudiation；　and　who　since　that　fatal　day　had
dragged　out　a　sad　life　in　the　brilliant　solitude　of　Malmaison；　this
devoted　wife　who　had　shared　for　fifteen　years　the　fortunes　of　her
husband；　and　who　had　assisted　so　powerfully　in　his　elevation；　was　not　the
last　to　rejoice　at　the　birth　of　the　King　of　Rome。　　She　was　accustomed　to
say　that　the　desire　to　leave　a　posterity；　and　to　be　represented　after　our
death　by　beings　who　owe　their　life　and　position　to　us；　was　a　sentiment
deeply　engraved　in　the　heart　of　man；　that　this　desire；　which　was　so
natural；　and　which　she　had　felt　so　deeply　as　wife　and　mother；　this　desire
to　have　children　to　survive　and　continue　us　on　earth；　was　still　more
augmented　when　we　had　a　high　destiny　to　transmit　to　them；　that　in
Napoleon's　peculiar　position；　as　founder　of　a　vast　empire；　it　was
impossible　he　should　long　resist　a　sentiment　which　is　at　the　bottom　of
every　heart；　and　which；　if　it　is　true　that　this　sentiment　increases　in
proportion　to　the　inheritance　we　leave　our　children；　no　one　could
experience　more　fully　than　Napoleon；　for　no　one　had　yet　possessed　so
formidable　a　power　on　the　earth；　that　the　course　of　nature　having　made
her　sterility　a　hopeless　evil；　it　was　her　duty　to　be　the　first　to
sacrifice　the　sentiments　of　her　heart　to　the　good　of　the　state；　and　the
personal　happiness　of　Napoleon　sad　but　powerful　reasoning；　which　policy
invoked　in　aid　of　the　divorce；　and　of　which　this　excellent　princess　in
the　illusion　of　her　devotion　thought　herself　convinced　in　the　depths　of
her　heart。

The　royal　child　was　presented　to　her。　　I　know　nothing　in　the　world　which
could　be　more　touching　than　the　joy　of　this　excellent　woman　at　the　sight
of　Napoleon's　son。　　She　at　first　regarded　him　with　eyes　swimming　in
tears；　then　she　took　him　in　her　arms；　and　pressed　him　to　her　heart　with　a
tenderness　too　deep　for　words。　　There　were　present　no　indiscreet
witnesses　to　take　pleasure　in　indulging　irreverent　curiosity；　or　obser