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〃You yourself said just now it would be an everlasting disgrace for
an emperor to be unable to straighten anything which lie himself
made crooked。 It seems to me； now； an emperor should extricate
himself from any position imposing on him the necessity of doing
anything crooked and unworthy of his imperial dignity。 If such is
his duty in regard to a thing so insignificant as a peach…stone； how
much more urgent is this duty； when there is at stake something so
great and sacred as the independence and honor of your empire and
policy！〃
〃See； see！〃 said the emperor； scratching his head with an expression
of ludicrous surprise； 〃then we have really got back from the peach…
stone to political affairs and the war…question。 Now； this war…
question is a hard peach…stone to crack； and the mere thought of it
sets my teeth on edge。〃
〃Ah；〃 said Ludovica； 〃your teeth are firm and strong； for they are
composed of three hundred thousand swords； and thousands of cannon
and muskets。 If the lion is determined to use his teeth； lie will
easily succeed in destroying the were…wolf； for this rapacious and
bloodthirsty were…wolf is brave and invincible only when he has to
deal with lambs； only the feeble and disarmed have reason to fear
him。〃
〃In speaking of a were…wolf； I suppose you refer to the Emperor
Napoleon？〃 asked the emperor； smiling。 〃I must tell you； however；
that； in your warlike enthusiasm； you do him injustice。 It seems to
me he is brave not alone where he has to deal with lambs； arid not
alone the feeble and disarmed have reason to fear him。 I think I did
not march lambs against him at Austerlitz； but brave men； who were
not feeble and disarmed； but strong and well…armed。 Nevertheless；
Bonaparte overpowered them； he gained the battle of Austerlitz over
us； and we had to submit to him； and accept the terms of peace which
he imposed on us。〃
〃Yes； your majesty had to submit to him。〃 cried the empress；
ardently； 〃you were obliged to repair to the proud usurper's camp
and beseech him to grant you peace！〃
〃I was not obliged to go to him； but I did so in order to restore
peace to my people； and prevent all Austria from sinking into ruin。
It is true； it was a dreadful walk for me； and when I saw the
Emperor of the French at his camp…fire； he became utterly
distasteful to me。 ＇Footnote： The emperor's own words。See
〃Lebensbilder aus dem Befreiungekriege；〃 vol。 i。＇ Nevertheless； the
truth cannot be gainsaid； and the truth is that the Emperor Napoleon
is more than a were…wolf killing only lambs； he is a lion whose
furious roar causes all thrones to tremble； and who； when he shakes
his mane； shakes all Europe to its foundations。〃
〃The more is it incumbent on us then to put an end to this unnatural
state of affairs；〃 exclaimed the empress； vehemently； 〃to strengthen
the thrones； and restore at length tranquillity to Europe。 And there
is only one way of doing this； my lord and emperor； and that is war！
We must destroy the lion in order to restore tranquillity to the
peaceable nations。〃
〃But what if； instead of destroying the lion； we should be destroyed
by him？〃 asked the emperor； with a shrug。 〃What if the lion should a
second time place his foot on our neck； trample us in the dust； and
dictate to us again a disgraceful and humiliating peace？ Do you
think that the present position of the King of Prussia is a pleasant
and honorable one； and that I am anxious to incur a similar fate？
No； madame！ I am by no means eager to wear a martyr's crown instead
of my imperial crown； and I will rather strive to keep my crown on
my head； regardless of the clamor of the German war…party。 These
German shriekers are nice fellows。 They refuse to do any thing； but
think it is enough for them to cry； 'War！ war！' and that that will
be sufficient to conquer Bonaparte。 But； empress； a great deal more
is required for that purpose than the fanatical war…clamor of the
aristocratic saloons； and the scribblings of the journalists and
patriotic poets； in order to attain so grand an object； it is
indispensable that all Germany should rise； take up arms； and attack
the enemy with united forces。〃
〃It is as your majesty says；〃 exclaimed Ludovica； enthusiastically；
〃all Germany is ready for the struggle against the enemy。 The nation
is only waiting for Austria to give the signal； draw the sword； and
advance upon France； when all Germany will follow her。〃
〃I know these fine phrases；〃 said Francis； shrugging his shoulders；
〃I hear them every day from my brothers； who are eager for war； and
who manage to gain a great deal of popularity in so comfortable a
manner。 But after all； they are phrases with very little sense in
them。 For just tell me； empress； where is the Germany which； you
say； is only waiting for Austria to give the signal？ Where are the
German armies which； you say； are only waiting for Austria to
advance； when they will follow her？ I have good sound eyes； but I
cannot see such armies anywhere。 I am quite familiar with the
geography of Germany； I know all the states that belong to it； but
among them I vainly look for those which are waiting for us to give
such a signal。 Prussia is utterly powerless； and cannot do any
thing。 The princes of the Rhenish Confederacy； it is true； are
waiting for the signal； but Bonaparte will give it to them； and when
they march； they will march against Austria and strive to fight us
bravely in order to obtain from the French Emperor praise； honors；
titles； and grants of additional territories。 No； no； I cannot be
blinded by brave words and bombastic phrases； I know that Austria；
in case a war should break out； would stand all alone； and that she
must either conquer or be ruined。 In 1805； when； in consequence of
the disastrous battle of Austerlitz； I lost half my states； I was
not alone； Russia was my ally。 But Russia has recently declared
that； in case a war should break out； she would not assist us
against Napoleon； but observe a strict neutrality as long as
possible； if she should； however； be obliged to take a decided
stand； she would be on the side of France and against us。
Consequently； I am entirely isolated； and Napoleon has numerous
allies。〃
〃But your majesty has a powerful ally in the universal enthusiasm of
the Austrians and Germans； in the universal indignation of the
nations against Napoleon。 You have public opinion on your side； and
that is the most powerful ally。〃
〃Ah； let me alone with that abominable ally；〃 cried the emperor；
vehemently； 〃I do not want to hear of it nor to have anything to do
with it。 Public opinion is the hobby which my brother； the popular
Archduke John； is riding all the time； but it will throw him one day
into the mire； and then he will find out what it really amounts to。
Pray； never speak to me again of public opinion； for I detest it。 It
smells of revolution and insurrection； and； like a patient donkey；
suffers itself to be led by whosoever offers it a thistle as a bait。
I renounce once for all the alliance of public opinion； and I do not
care whether it blesses or crucifies me； whether it calls me emperor
or blockhead。 You see now； empress； that I am entirely isolated； for
t