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napoleon bonaparte, v2-第10部分
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the wind being in favor of the French; he was not able to keep the
promise he had made in London to burn our fleet; while on the contrary
many of his own boats were so greatly damaged; that Admiral Bruix; seeing
the English begin to retire; cried 〃Victory!〃 pouring out champagne for
his guests。 The French flotilla suffered very little; while the enemy's
squadron was ruined by the steady fire; of our stationary batteries。 On
that day the English learned that they could not possibly approach the
shore at Boulogne; which after this they named the Iron Coast (Cote de
Fer)。
When the First Consul left Boulogne; he made his arrangements to pass
through Abbeville; and to stop twenty four hours there。 The mayor of the
town left nothing undone towards a suitable reception; and Abbeville was
magnificent on that day。 The finest trees from the neighboring woods
were taken up bodily with their roots to form avenues in all the streets
through which the First Consul was to pass; and some of the citizens; who
owned magnificent gardens; sent their rarest shrubs to be displayed along
his route; and carpets from the factory of Hecquet…Dorval were spread on
the ground; to be trodden by his horses。 But unforeseen circumstances
suddenly cut short the fete。
A courier; sent by the minister of police; arrived as we were
approaching the town; who notified the First Consul of a plot to
assassinate him two leagues farther on; the very day and hour were named。
To baffle the attempt that they intended against his person; the First
Consul traversed the city in a gallop; and; followed by some lancers;
went to the spot where he was to be attacked; halted about half an hour;
ate some Abbeville cakes; and set out。 The assassins were deceived。
They had not expected his arrival until the next day。
The First Consul and Madame Bonaparte continued their journey through
Picardy; Flanders; and the Low Countries。 Each day the First Consul
received offers of vessels of war from the different council…generals;
the citizens continued to offer him addresses; and the mayors to present
him with the keys of the cities; as if he exercised royal power。 Amiens;
Dunkirk; Lille; Bruges; Ghent; Brussels; Liege; and Namur distinguished
themselves by the brilliant receptions they gave to the illustrious
travelers。 The inhabitants of Antwerp presented the First Consul with
six magnificent bay horses。 Everywhere also; the First Consul left
valuable souvenirs of his journey; and by his orders; works were
immediately commenced to deepen and improve the port of Amiens。 He
visited in that city; and in all the others where he stopped; the
exposition of the products of industry; encouraging manufacturers by his
advice; and favoring them in his decrees。 At Liege; he put at the
disposal of the prefect of the Ourthe the sum of three hundred thousand
francs) to repair the houses burned by the Austrians; in that department;
during the early years of the Revolution。 Antwerp owes to him the inner
port; a basin; and the building of carpenter…shops。 At Brussels; he
ordered that the Rhine; the Meuse; and the Scheldt should be connected by
a canal。 He gave to Givet a stone bridge over the Meuse; and at Sedan
the widow Madame Rousseau received from him the sum of sixty thousand
francs for the re…establishment of the factory destroyed by fire。
Indeed; I cannot begin to enumerate all the benefits; both public and
private; which the First Consul and Madame Bonaparte scattered along
their route。
A little while after our return to Saint…Cloud; the First Consul; while
riding in the park with his wife and Cambaceres; took a fancy to drive
the four horses attached to the carriage which had been given him by the
inhabitants of Antwerp。 He took his place on the driver's seat; and took
the reins from the hands of Caesar; his coachman; who got up behind the
carriage。 At that instant they were in the horse…shoe alley; which leads
to the road of the Pavilion Breteuil; and of Ville d'Avray。 It is stated
in the Memorial of St。 Helena; that the aide…de…camp; having awkwardly
frightened the horses; made them run away; but Caesar; who related to me
in detail this sad disaster a few moments after the accident had taken
place; said not a word to me about the aide…de…camp; and; in truth; there
was needed; to upset the coach; nothing more than the awkwardness of a
coachman with so little experience as the First Consul。 Besides; the
horses were young and spirited; and Caesar himself needed all his skill
to guide them。 Not feeling his hand on the reins; they set out at a
gallop; while Caesar; seeing the new direction they were taking to the
right; cried out; 〃To the left;〃 in a stentorian voice。 Consul
Cambaceres; even paler than usual; gave himself little concern as to
reassuring Madame Bonaparte; who was much alarmed; but screamed with all
his might; 〃Stop; stop! you will break all our necks!〃 That might well
happen; for the First Consul heard nothing; and; besides; could not
control the horses; and when he reached; or rather was carried with the
speed of lightning to; the very gate; he was not able to keep in the
road; but ran against a post; where the carriage fell over heavily; and
fortunately the horses stopped。 The First Consul was thrown about ten
steps; fell on his stomach; and fainted away; and did not revive until
some one attempted to lift him up。 Madame Bonaparte and the second
consul had only slight contusions; but good Josephine had suffered
horrible anxiety about her husband。 However; although he was badly
bruised; he would not be bled; and satisfied himself with a few rubbings
with eau de Cologne; his favorite remedy。 That evening; on retiring; he
spoke gayly of his misadventure; and of the great fright that his
colleague had shown; and ended by saying; 〃We must render unto Caesar
that which is Caesar's; let him keep his whip; and let us each mind his
own business。〃
He admitted; however; notwithstanding all his jokes; that he had never
thought himself so near death; and that he felt as if he had been dead
for a few seconds。 I do not remember whether it was on this or another
occasion that I heard the Emperor say; that 〃death was only asleep
without dreams。〃
In the month of October of this year; the First Consul received in public
audience Haled…Effendi; the ambassador of the Ottoman Porte。
The arrival of the Turkish ambassador created a sensation at the
Tuileries; because he brought a large number of cashmere shawls to the
First Consul; which every one was sure would be distributed; and each
woman flattered herself that she would be favorably noticed。 I think
that; without his foreign costume; and without his cashmere shawls; he
would have produced little effect on persons accustomed to seeing
sovereign princes pay court to the chief of the government at his
residence and at their own。 His costume even was not more remarkable
than that of Roustan; to which we were accustomed; and as to his bows;
they were hardly lower than those of the ordinary courtiers of the First
Consul。 At Paris; it is said; the enthusiasm lasted longer〃It is so
odd to be a Turk!〃 A few ladies had the honor of seeing the bearded
ambassador eat。 He was polite and even gallant with them; and made them
a few presents; which were highly prized; his manners were not too
Mohammedan; and he was not much shocked at seeing our pretty Parisians
without veils over their faces。 One day; which he had spent almost
entirely at Saint…Cloud; I saw him go through his prayers。 It was in the
court of honor; on a broad parapet bordered with a stone balustrade。 The
ambassador had carpets spread on the side of the apartments; which were
afterwards those of the King of Rome; and there he made his genuflexions;
under the eyes of many people of the house; who; out of consideration;
kept themselves behind their casements。 In the evening he was present at
the theater; and Zaire or Mahomet; I think; was played; but of course he
understood none of it。
CHAPTER XII。
In the month of November of this year; the First Consul returned to
Boulogne to visit the fleet; and to review the troops who were already
assembled in the camps provided for the army with which he proposed to
descend on England。 I have preserved a few notes and many recollections
of my different sojourns at Boulogne。 Never did the Emperor make a
grander display of military power; nor has there ever been collected at
one point troops better disciplined or more ready to march at the least
signal of their chief; and it is not surprising that I should have
retained in my recollections of this period details which no one has yet;
I think; thought of publishing。 Neither; if I am not mistaken; could any
one be in a better position than I to know them。 However; the reader
will now judge for himself。
In the different reviews which the First Consul held; he seemed striving
to excite the enthusiasm of the soldiers; and to increase their
attachment for his person; by assiduously taking advantage of every
opportunity to excite their vanity。
One day; having especially noticed the excellent bearing of the Thirty…
sixth and Fifty…seventh regiments of the line; and Tenth of light
infantry; he made all the officers; from corporal to colonel; come
forward; and; placing himself in their midst; evinced his satisfaction by
recalling to them occasions when; in the past under the fire of cannon;
he had remarked the bearing of these three brave; regiments。 He
complimented the sub…officers on the good drilling of the soldiers; and
the captains and chiefs of battalion on the harmony and precision of
their evolutions。 In fine; each had his share of praise。
This flattering distinction did not excite the jealousy of the other
corps of the army; for each regiment had on that day its own share of
compliments; whether small or great; and when the review was over; they
went quietly back to their quarters。 But the soldiers of the Thirty…
sixth; Fifty…seventh; and Tenth; much elated by having been so specially
favored; went in the afternoon to drink to their triumph in a public
house frequented by the grenadiers of the cavalry of the Guard
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