napoleon bonaparte, v8-第16部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！


witnesses　to　take　pleasure　in　indulging　irreverent　curiosity；　or　observe
with　critical　irony　the　feelings　of　Josephine；　nor　was　there　ridiculous
etiquette　to　freeze　the　expression　of　this　tender　soul；　it　was　a　scene
from　private　life；　and　Josephine　entered　into　it　with　all　her　heart。
From　the　manner　in　which　she　caressed　this　child；　it　might　have　been　said
that　it　was　some　ordinary；　child；　and　not　a　son　of　the　Caesars；　as
flatterers　said；　not　the　son　of　a　great　man；　whose　cradle　was　surrounded
with　so　many　honors；　and　who　had　been　born　a　king。　　Josephine　bathed　him
with　her　tears；　and　said　to　him　some　of　those　baby　words　with　which　a
mother　makes　herself　understood　and　loved　by　her　new　born。　　It　was
necessary　at　last　to　separate　them。　　The　interview　had　been　short；　but　it
had　been　well　employed　by　the　loving　soul　of　Josephine。　　In　this　scene
one　could　judge　from　her　joy　of　the　sincerity　of　her　sacrifice；　while　at
the　same　time　her　stifled　sighs　testified　to　its　extent。　　Madame　de
Montesquieu's　visits　were　made　only　at　long　intervals；　which　distressed
Josephine　greatly；　but　the　child　was　growing　larger；　an　indiscreet　word
lisped　by　him；　a　childish　remembrance；　the　least　thing；　might　offend
Marie　Louise；　who　feared　Josephine。　　The　Emperor　wished　to　avoid　this
annoyance；　which　would　have　affected　his　domestic　happiness；　so　he
ordered　that　the　visits　should　be　made　more　rarely；　and　at　last　they　were
stopped。　　I　have　heard　Josephine　say　that　the　birth　of　the　King　of　Rome
repaid　her　for　all　sacrifices；　and　surely　never　was　the　devotion　of　a
woman　more　disinterested　or　more　complete。

Immediately　after　his　birth　the　King　of　Rome　was　confided　to　the　care　of
a　nurse　of　a　healthy；　robust　constitution；　taken　from　among　the　people。
This　woman　could　neither　leave　the　palace　nor　receive　a　visit　from　any
man；　the　strictest　precautions　were　observed　in　this　respect。　　She　was
taken　out　to　ride　for　her　health　in　a　carriage；　and　even　then　she　was
accompanied　by　several　women。

These　were　the　habits　of　Marie　Louise　with　her　son。　　In　the　morning　about
nine　o'clock　the　king　was　brought　to　his　mother；　she　took　him　in　her　arms
and　caressed　him　a　few　moments；　then　returned　him　to　his　nurse；　and　began
to　read　the　papers。　　The　child　grew　tired；　and　the　lady　in　charge　took
him　away。　　At　four　o'clock　the　mother　went　to　visit　her　son；　that　is　to
say；　Marie　Louise　went　down　into　the　king's　apartments；　carrying　with　her
some　embroidery；　on　which　she　worked　at　intervals。　　Twenty　minutes　after
she　was　informed　that　M。　Isabey　or　M。　Prudhon　had　arrived　for　the　lesson
in　painting　or　drawing；　whereupon　the　Empress　returned　to　her　apartments。

Thus　passed　the　first　months　which　followed　the　birth　of　the　King　of
Rome。　　In　the　intervals　between　fetes；　the　Emperor　was　occupied　with
decrees；　reviews；　monuments；　and　plans；　constantly　employed；　with　few
distractions；　indefatigable　in　every　work；　and　still　not　seeming　to　have
anything　to　occupy　his　powerful　mind；　and　happy　in　his　private　life　with
his　young　wife；　by　whom　he　was　tenderly　beloved。　　The　Empress　led　a　very
simple　life；　which　suited　her　disposition　well。　　Josephine　needed　more
excitement；　her　life　had　been　also　more　in　the　outside　world；　more
animated；　more　expansive；　though　this　did　not　prevent　her　being　very
faithful　to　the　duties　of　her　domestic　life；　and　very　tender　and　loving
towards　her　husband；　whom　she　knew　how　to　render　happy　in　her　own　way。

One　day　Bonaparte　returned　from　a　hunt　worn　out　with　fatigue；　and　begged
Marie　Louise　to　come　to　him。　　She　came；　and　the　Emperor　took　her　in　his
arms　and　gave　her　a　sounding　kiss　on　the　cheek。　　Marie　Louise　took　her
handkerchief　and　wiped　her　cheek。　　〃Well；　Louise；　you　are　disgusted　with
me？〃〃No；〃　replied　the　Empress；　〃I　did　it　from　habit；　I　do　the　same　with
the　King　of　Rome。〃　　The　Emperor　seemed　vexed。　　Josephine　was　very
different；　she　received　her　husband's　caresses　affectionately；　and　even
met　him　half　way。　　The　Emperor　sometimes　said　to　her；　〃Louise；　sleep　in
my　room。〃〃It　is　too　warm　there；〃　replied　the　Empress。　　In　fact；　she
could　not　endure　the　heat；　and　Napoleon's　apartments　were　constantly
warmed。　　She　had　also　an　extreme　repugnance　to　odors；　and　in　her　own
rooms　allowed　only　vinegar　or　sugar　to　be　burnt。









End