memoirs of napoleon bonaparte, v8-第11部分

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they　are　moths　who　will　burn　themselves　in　the　candle。　　You　have　been　an
emigrant　yourself；　Bourrienne；　you　feel　a　partiality　for　them；　and　you
know　that　I　have　allowed　upwards　of　two　hundred　of　them　to　return　upon
your　recommendation。　　But　the　case　is　altered。　　Those　who　are　abroad　are
hardened。　　They　do　not　wish　to　return　home。　　Watch　them　closely。　　That　is
the　only　particular　direction　I　give　you。　　You　are　to　be　Minister　from
France　to　Hamburg；　but　your　place　will　be　an　independent　one；　besides
your　correspondence　with　the　Minister　for　Foreign　Affairs；　I　authorise
you　to　write　to　me　personally；　whenever　you　have　anything　particular
to　communicate。　　You　will　likewise　correspond　with　Fouche。〃

Here　the　Emperor　remained　silent　for　a　moment；　and　I　was　preparing　to
retire；　but　he　detained　me；　saying　in　the　kindest　manner；　〃What；　are　you
going　already；　Bourrienne？　　Are　you　in　a　hurry？　　Let；　us　chat　a　little
longer。　　God　knows；　when　we　may　see　each　other　again！〃　Then　after　two　or
three　moments'　silence　he　said；　〃The　more　I　reflect　on　our　situation；　on
our　former　intimacy；　and　our　subsequent　separation；　the　more　I　see　the
necessity　of　your　going　to　Hamburg。　　Go；　then；　my　dear　fellow；　I　advise
you。　　Trust　me。　　When　do　you　think　of　setting　out？〃　　〃In　May。〃〃In　May？
。　　。　　。　　Ah；　I　shall　be　in　Milan　then；　for　I　wish　to　stop　at　Turin。　　I
like　the　Piedmontese；　they　are　the　best　soldiers　in　Italy。〃〃Sire；　the
King　of　Italy　will　be　the　junior　of　the　Emperor　of　France！〃

　　　　　＇I　alluded　to　a　conversation　which　I　had　with　Napoleon　when　we
　　　　　first　went　to　the　Tuileries。　　He　spoke　to　me　about　his　projects　of
　　　　　royalty；　and　I　stated　the　difficulties　which　I　thought　he　would
　　　　　experience　in　getting　himself　acknowledged　by　the　old　reigning
　　　　　families　of　Europe。　　〃If　it　comes　to　that；〃　be　replied。　　〃I　will
　　　　　dethrone　them　all；　and　then　I　shall　be　the　oldest　sovereign　among
　　　　　them。〃Bourrienne。＇

〃Ah！　so　you　recollect　what　I　said　one　day　at　the　Tuileries；　but；　my
dear　fellow；　I　have　yet　a　devilish　long　way　to　go　before　I　gain　my
point。〃〃At　the　rate；　Sire；　at　which　you　are　going　you　will　not　be　long
in　reaching　it。〃　〃Longer　than　you　imagine。　　I　see　all　the　obstacles　in
my　way；　but　they　do　not　alarm　me。　　England　is　everywhere；　and　the
struggle　is　between　her　and　me。　　I　see　how　it　will　be。　　The　whole　of
Europe　will　be　our　instruments；　sometimes　serving　one；　sometimes　the
other；　but　at　bottom　the　dispute　is　wholly　between　England　and　France。

〃A　propos；〃　said　the　Emperor；　changing　the　subject；　for　all　who　knew　him
are　aware　that　this　'a　propos'　was　his　favourite；　and；　indeed；　his　only
mode　of　transition；　a　propos；　Bourrienne；　you　surely　must　have　heard　of
the　departure　of　Jaubert；

　　　　　＇Amedee　Jaubart　had　been　with　Napoleon　in　Egypt；　and　was　appointed
　　　　　to　the　cabinet　of　the　Consul　as　secretary　interpreter　of　Oriental
　　　　　languages。　　He　was　sent　on　several　missions　to　the　East；　and　brought
　　　　　back；　is　1818；　goats　from　Thibet；　naturalising　in　France　the
　　　　　manufacture　of　cashmeres。　　He　became　a　peer　of　France　under　the
　　　　　Monarchy　of　July。＇

and　his　mission。　　What　is　said　on　the　subject？〃　〃Sire；　I　have　only
heard　it　slightly　alluded　to。　　His　father；　however；　to　whom　he　said
nothing　respecting　the　object　of　his　journey；　knowing　I　was　intimate　with
Jaubert；　came　to　me　to　ascertain　whether　I　could　allay　his　anxiety
respecting　a　journey　of　the　duration　of　which　he　could　form　no　idea。　　The
precipitate　departure　of　his　son　had　filled　him　with　apprehension　I　told
him　the　truth；　viz。；　that　Jaubert　had　said　no　more　to　me　on　the　subject
than　to　him。〃〃　Then　you　do　not　know　where　he　is　gone？〃〃I　beg　your
pardon；　Sire；　I　know　very　well。〃〃　How；　the　devil！〃　　said　Bonaparte；
suddenly　turning　on　me　a　look　of　astonishment。　　〃No　one；　I；　declare；　has
ever　told　me；　but　I　guessed　it。　　Having　received　a　letter　from　Jaubert
dated　Leipsic；　I　recollected　what　your　Majesty　had　often　told　me　of　your
views　respecting　Persia　and　India。　　I　have　not　forgotten　our　conversation
in　　Egypt；　nor　the　great　projects　which　you　enfolded　to　me　to　relieve　the
solitude　and　sometimes　the　weariness　of　the　cabinet　of　Cairo。　　Besides；　I
long　since　knew　your　opinion　　of　Amedee；　of　his　fidelity；　his　ability；
and　his　courage。　　I　felt　convinced；　therefore；　that　he　had　a　mission　to
the　　Shah　of　Persia。〃〃You　guessed　right；　but　I　beg　of　you；　Bourrienne；
say　nothing　of　this　to　any　person　whatever。　Secrecy　on　this　point　is　of
grew　importance。　　The　English　would　do　him　an　ill　turn；　for　they　are　well
aware　that　my　views　are　directed　against　their　possessions　and　their
influence　in　the　East。〃〃I　think；　Sire；　that　my　answer　to　Anedee's
worthy　father　is　a　sufficient　guarantee　for　my　discretion。　　Besides；　it
was　a　mere　supposition　on　my　part；　and　I　could　have　stated　nothing　with
certainty　before　your　Majesty　had　the　kindness　to　inform　me　of　the　fact。
Instead　of　going　to　Hamburg；　if　your　Majesty　pleases；　I　will　join
Jaubert；　accompany　him　to　Persia；　and　undertake　half　his　mission。〃
〃How！　would　you　go　with　him？〃〃Yes；　Sire；　I　am　much　attached　to　him。　　He
is　an　excellent　man；　and　I　am　sure　that　he　would　not　be　sorry　to　have　me
with　him。〃〃　But　。　　。　　。　　Stop；　Bourrienne；　。　　。　　。　　this；　perhaps；
would　not　be　a　bad　idea。　　You　know　a　little　of　the　East。　　You　are
accustomed　to　the　climate。　　You　could　assist　Jaubert　。　　。　　。　　。　　But。　　。
。　　。　　。　　No。　　daubert　must　be　already　far　off　I；　fear　you　could　not
overtake　him。　　And　besides　you　have　a　numerous　family。　　You　will　be　more
useful　to　me　in　Germany。　　All　things　considered；　go　to　Hamburgyou　know
the　country；　and；　what　is　better　you　speak　the　language。〃

I　could　see　that　Bonaparte　still　had　something　to　say　to　me。　　As　we　were
walking　up　and　down　the　room　he　stopped；　and　looking　at　me　with　an
expression　of　sadness；　he　said；　〃Bourrienne；　you　must；　before　I　proceed
to　Italy；　do　me　a　service。　　You　sometimes　visit　my　wife；　and　it　is　right；
it　is　fit　you　should。　　You　have　been　too　long　one　of　the　family　not　to
continue　your　friendship　with　her。　　Go　to　her。

　　　　　＇This　employment　of　Bourrienne　to　remonstrate　with　Josephine　is　a
　　　　　complete　answer　to　the　charge　sometimes　made　that　Napoleon；　while
　　　　　scolding；　really　encouraged　the　foolish　expenses　of　his　wife；　as
　　　　　keeping　her　under　his　control。　　Josephine　was　incorrigible。　　〃On　the
　　　　　very　day　of　her　death；〃　says　Madame　de　Remusat　〃she　wished　to　put　on
　　　　　a　very　pretty　dressing…gown　because　she　thought　the　Emperor　of
　　　　　Russia　would　perhaps　come　to　see　her。　　She　died　all　covered　with
　　　　　ribbons　and　rose…colored　satin。〃　　〃One　would　not；　sure；　be　frightful
　　　　　when　one's　dead！〃　　As　for　Josephine's　great　faulther　failure　to
　　　　　give　Napoleon　an　heirhe　did　not　always　wish　for　one。　　In　1802；　on
　　　　　his　brother　Jerome　jokingly　advising　Josephine　to　give　the　Consul　a
　　　　　little　Caesar。　　Napoleon　broke　out；　〃Yea；　that　he　may　end　in　the
　　　　　same　manner　as　that　of　Alexander？　　Believe　me；　Messieurs；　that　at
　　　　　the　present　time　it　is　better　not　to　have　children：　I　mean　when　one
　　　　　is　condemned　to　role　nations。〃　　The　fate　of　the　King　of　Rome　shows
　　　　　that　the　exclamation　was　only　too　true！＇

Endeavour　once　more　to　make　her　sensible　of　her　mad　extravagance。　　Every
day　I　discover　new　instances　of　it；　and　it　distresses　me。　　When　I　speak
to　heron　the　subject　I　am　vexed；　I　get　angryshe　weeps。　　I　forgive
her；　I　pay　her　billsshe　makes　fair　promises；　but　the　same　thing　occurs
over　and　over　again。　　If　she　had　only　borne　me　a　child！　　It　is　the
torment　of　my　life　not　to　have　a　child。　　I　plainly　perceive　that　my　power
will　never　be　firmly　established　until　I　have　one。　　If　I　die　without　an
heir；　not　one　of　my　brothers　is　capable　of　supplying　my　place。　　All　is
begun；　but　nothing　is　ended。　　God　knows　what　will　happen！　Go　and　see
Josephine；　and　do　not　forget　my　injunctions。。〃

Then　he　resumed　the　gaiety　which　he　had　exhibited　at　intervals　during　our
conversation；　far　clouds　driven　by　the　wind　do　not　traverse　the　horizon
with　such　rapidity　as　different　ideas　and　sensations　succeeded　each　other
m　Napoleon's　mind。　　He　dismissed　me　with　his　usual　nod　of　the　head；　and
seeing　him　in　such　good　humour　I　said　on　departing；　〃well；　Sire；　you　are
going　to　hear　the　old　bell　of　Brienne。　　I　have　no　doubt　it　will　please
you　better　than　the　bells　of　Ruel。〃　　He　replied；　〃That's　treeyou　are
right。　　Adieu！〃

Such　are　my　recollections　of　this　conversation；　which　lasted　for　more
than　an　hour　and　a　half。　　We　walked　about　all　the　time；　for　Bonaparte　was
indefatigable　in　audiences　of　this　sort；　and　would；　I　believe；　have
walked　and　talked　for　a　whole　day　without　being　aware　of　it。　　I　left　him；
and；　according　to　his　desire；　went　to　see　Madame　Bonaparte；　which　indeed
I　had　intended　to　do　before　he　requested　it。

I　found　Josephine　with　Madame　de　la　Rochefoucauld；　who　had　long　been　in
her　suite；　and　who　a　short　time　before　had　obtained　the　title　of　lady　of
honour　to　the　Empress。　　Madame　de　la　Rochefoucauld　was　a　very　amiable
woman；　of　mild　disposition；　and　was　a　favourite　with　Josephine。　　When　I
told　the　Empress　that　I　had　just　left　the　Emperor；　she；　thinking　that　I
would　not　speak　freely　before　a　third　person；　made　a　sign　to　Madame　de　la
Rochefoucauld　to　retire。　　I　had　no　trouble　in　introducing　the
conversation　on　the　subject　concerning　which　Napoleon　had　directed　me　to
speak　to　Josephine；　for；　after　the　interchange　of　a　few　indifferent
remarks；　she　herself　told　me　of　a　violent　scene；　which　had　occurred
between　her　and　the　Emperor　two　days　before。　　〃When　I　wrote　to　you
yesterday；〃　said　she；　〃to　announce　your　appointment；　and　to　tell　you　that
Bonaparte　would　recall　you；　I　hoped　that　you　would　come　to　see　me　on
quitting　him；　but　I　did　not　think　that　he　would　have　sent　for　you　so
soon。　　Ah！　　how　I　wish　that　you　were　still　with　him；　Bourrienne；　you
could　make　him　hear　reason。　　I　know　not　who　takes　pleasure　in　bearing
tales　to　him；　but　really　I　think　there　are　persons　busy　everywhere　in
finding　out　my　debts；　and　telling　him　of　them。〃

These　complaints；　so　gently　uttered　by　Josephine　rendered　less　difficult
the　preparatory　mission　with　which　I　commenced　the　exercise　of　my
diplomatic　functions。　　I　acquainte