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！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
mphal arches； and in the sculpture upon them the common soldiers are done every bit as beautifully as the generals！
〃In two or three years Napoleon fills his cellars with gold； makes bridges； palaces； roads； scholars； festivals； laws； fleets； and harbors； he spends millions on millions； ever so much； and ever so much more to it； so that I have heard it said that he could have paved the whole of France with five…franc pieces if the fancy had taken him； and all this without putting any taxes on you people here。 So when he was comfortably seated on his throne； and so thoroughly the master of the situation； that all Europe was waiting for leave to do anything for him that he might happen to want； as he had four brothers and three sisters； he said to us； just as it might be by way of conversation； in the order of the day：
〃 'Children； is it fitting that your Emperor's relations should beg their bread？ No； I want them all to be luminaries； like me in fact！ Therefore； it is urgently necessary to conquer a kingdom for each one of them； so that the French nation may be masters everywhere； so that the Guard may make the whole earth tremble； and France may spit wherever she likes； and every nation shall say to her； as it is written on my coins； 〃God protects you。〃 '
〃 'All right！' answers the army； 'we will fish up kingdoms for you with the bayonet。'
〃Ah！ there was no backing out of it； look you！ If he had taken it into his head to conquer the moon； we should have had to put everything in train； pack our knapsacks； and scramble up； luckily； he had no wish for that excursion。 The kings who were used to the comforts of a throne； of course； objected to be lugged off； so we had marching orders。 We march； we get there； and the earth begins to shake to its centre again。 What times they were for wearing out men and shoe… leather！ And the hard knocks that they gave us！ Only Frenchmen could have stood it。 But you are not ignorant that a Frenchman is a born philosopher； he knows that he must die a little sooner or a litter later。 So we used to die without a word； because we had the pleasure of watching the Emperor do THIS on the maps。〃
Here the soldier swung quickly round on one foot； so as to trace a circle on the barn floor with the other。
〃 'There； that shall be a kingdom；' he used to say； and it was a kingdom。 What fine times they were！ Colonels became generals whilst you were looking at them； generals became marshals of France； and marshals became kings。 There is one of them still left on his feet to keep Europe in mind of those days； Gascon though he may be； and a traitor to France that he might keep his crown； and he did not blush for his shame； for； after all； a crown； look you； is made of gold。 The very sappers and miners who knew how to read became great nobles in the same way。 And I who am telling you all this have seen in Paris eleven kings and a crowd of princes all round about Napoleon； like rays about the sun！ Keep this well in your minds； that as every soldier stood a chance of having a throne of his own （provided he showed himself worthy of it）； a corporal of the Guard was by way of being a sight to see； and they gaped at him as he went by； for every one came by his share after a victory； it was made perfectly clear in the bulletin。 And what battles they were！ Austerlitz； where the army was manoeuvred as if it had been a review； Eylau； where the Russians were drowned in a lake； just as if Napoleon had breathed on them and blown them in； Wagram； where the fighting was kept up for three whole days without flinching。 In short； there were as many battles as there are saints in the calendar。
〃Then it was made clear beyond a doubt that Napoleon bore the Sword of God in his scabbard。 He had a regard for the soldier。 He took the soldier for his child。 He was anxious that you should have shoes； shirts； greatcoats； bread； and cartridges； but he kept up his majesty； too； for reigning was his own particular occupation。 But； all the same； a sergeant； or even a common soldier； could go up to him and call him 'Emperor；' just as you might say 'My good friend' to me at times。 And he would give an answer to anything you put before him。 He used to sleep on the snow just like the rest of usin short； he looked almost like an ordinary man； but I who am telling you all these things have seen him myself with the grape…shot whizzing about his ears； no more put out by it than you are at this moment； never moving a limb； watching through his field…glass； always looking after his business； so we stood our ground likewise； as cool and calm as John the Baptist。 I do not know how he did it； but whenever he spoke； a something in his words made our hearts burn within us； and just to let him see that we were his children； and that it was not in us to shirk or flinch； we used to walk just as usual right up to the sluts of cannon that were belching smoke and vomiting battalions of balls； and never a man would so much as say； 'Look out！' It was a something that made dying men raise their heads to salute him and cry； 'Long live the Emperor！'
〃Was that natural？ Would you have done this for a mere man？
〃Thereupon； having fitted up all his family； and things having so turned out that the Empress Josephine （a good woman for all that） had no children； he was obliged to part company with her； although he loved her not a little。 But he must have children； for reasons of State。 All the crowned heads of Europe； when they heard of his difficulty； squabbled among themselves as to who should find him a wife。 He married an Austrian princess； so they say； who was the daughter of the Caesars； a man of antiquity whom everybody talks about； not only in our country； where it is said that most things were his doing； but also all over Europe。 And so certain sure is that； that I who am talking to you have been myself across the Danube； where I saw the ruins of a bridge built by that man； and it appeared that he was some connection of Napoleon's at Rome； for the Emperor claimed succession there for his son。
〃So； after his wedding； which was a holiday for the whole world； and when they let the people off their taxes for ten years to come （though they had to pay them just the same after all； because the excisemen took no notice of the proclamation）after his wedding； I say； his wife had a child who was King of Rome； a child was born a King while his father was alive； a thing that had never been seen in the world before！ That day a balloon set out from Paris to carry the news to Rome； and went all the way in one day。 There； now！ Is there one of you who will stand me out that there was nothing supernatural in that？ No； it was decreed on high。 And the mischief take those who will not allow that it was wafted over by God Himself； so as to add to the honor and glory of France！
〃But there was the Emperor of Russia； a friend of our Emperor's； who was put out because he had not married a Russian lady。 So the Russian backs up our enemies the English； for there had always been something to prevent Napoleon from putting a spoke in their wheel。 Clearly an end must be made of fowl of that feather。 Napoleon is vexed； and he says to us：
〃 'Soldiers！ You have been the masters