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the state of Genoa； where； from father to son； it vegetates obscurely
in provincial isolation； through a long line of notaries and municipal
syndics。 〃My origin；〃 says Napoleon himself；＇6＇ 〃 has made all
Italians regard me as a compatriot。 。 。 。 When the question of the
marriage of my sister Pauline with Prince Borghése came up there was
but one voice in Rome and in Tuscany； in that family； and with all its
connections： 'It will do；' said all of them； 'it's amongst ourselves；
it is one of our own families。。。'〃 When the Pope later hesitated about
coming to Paris to crown Napoleon； 〃the Italian party in the Conclave
prevailed against the Austrian party by supporting political arguments
with the following slight tribute to national amour propre： 'After all
we are imposing an Italian family on the barbarians； to govern them。
We are revenging ourselves on the Gauls。'〃 Significant words； which
will one day throw light upon the depths of the Italian nature； the
eldest daughter of modern civilization； imbued with her right of
primogeniture； persisting in her grudge against the transalpines； the
rancorous inheritor of Roman pride and of antique patriotism。＇7＇
From Sarzana； a Bonaparte emigrates to Corsica； where he establishes
himself and lives after 1529。 The following year Florence is taken
and subjugated for good。 Henceforth； in Tuscany； under Alexander de
Medici； then under Cosmo I。 and his successors； in all Italy under
Spanish rule； municipal independence； private feuds； the great
exploits of political adventures and successful usurpations； the
system of ephemeral principalities； based on force and fraud； all give
way to permanent repression； monarchical discipline； external order；
and a certain species of public tranquility。 Thus； just at the time
when the energy and ambition； the vigorous and free sap of the Middle
Ages begins to run down and then dry up in the shriveled trunk；＇8＇ a
small detached branch takes root in an island； not less Italian but
almost barbarous； amidst institutions； customs； and passions belonging
to the primitive medieval epoch；＇9＇ and in a social atmosphere
sufficiently rude for the maintenance of all its vigor and harshness。
… Grafted； moreover； by frequent marriages； on the wild stock of the
island； Napoleon； on the maternal side； through his grandmother and
mother； is wholly indigenous。 His grandmother； a Pietra…Santa；
belonged to Sarténe；＇10＇ a Corsican canton par excellence where； in
1800； hereditary vendettas still maintained the system of the eleventh
century； where the permanent strife of inimical families was suspended
only by truces； where； in many villages； nobody stirred out of doors
except in armed bodies； and where the houses were crenellated like
fortresses。 His mother； Laetitia Ramolini； from whom； in character
and in will； he derived much more than from his father；＇11＇ is a
primitive soul on which Civilization has taken no hold。 She is
simple； all of a piece； unsuited to the refinements； charms； and
graces of a worldly life； indifferent to comforts； without literary
culture； as parsimonious as any peasant woman； but as energetic as the
leader of a band。 She is powerful； physically and spiritually；
accustomed to danger； ready in desperate resolutions。 She is； in
short； a 〃rural Cornelia；〃 who conceived and gave birth to her son
amidst the risks of battle and of defeat； in the thickest of the
French invasion； amidst mountain rides on horseback； nocturnal
surprises； and volleys of musketry。＇12＇
〃Losses； privations； and fatigue；〃 says Napoleon； 〃she endured all and
braved all。 Hers was a man's head on a woman's shoulders。〃
Thus fashioned and brought into the world； he felt that； from first to
the last； he was of his people and country。
〃Everything was better there；〃 said he； at Saint Helena；＇13＇ 〃even the
very smell of the soil； which he could have detected with his eyes
shut； nowhere had he found the same thing。 He imagined himself there
again in early infancy； and lived over again the days of his youth；
amidst precipices； traversing lofty peaks； deep valleys； and narrow
defiles； enjoying the honors and pleasures of hospitality；〃 treated
everywhere as a brother and compatriot；〃 without any accident or
insult ever suggesting to him that his confidence was not well
grounded。〃 At Bocognano；＇14＇ where his mother； pregnant with him； had
taken refuge； 〃where hatred and vengeance extended to the seventh
degree of relationship； and where the dowry of a young girl was
estimated by the number of her Cousins； I was feasted and made
welcome； and everybody would have died for me。〃 Forced to become a
Frenchman； transplanted to France； educated at the expense of the king
in a French school； he became rigid in his insular patriotism； and
loudly extolled Paoli； the liberator； against whom his relations had
declared themselves。 〃Paoli；〃 said he； at the dinner table；＇15＇〃 was
a great man。 He loved his country。 My father was his adjutant； and
never will I forgive him for having aided in the union of Corsica with
France。 He should have followed her fortunes and have succumbed only
with her。〃 Throughout his youth he is at heart anti…French； morose；
〃bitter； liking very few and very little liked； brooding over
resentment；〃 like a vanquished man； always moody and compelled to work
against the grain。 At Brienne； he keeps aloof from his comrades；
takes no part in their sports； shuts himself in the library； and opens
himself up only to Bourrienne in explosions of hatred： 〃I will do you
Frenchmen all the harm I can！ … 〃Corsican by nation and character；〃
wrote his professor of history in the Military Academy； 〃he will go
far if circumstances favor him。〃＇16＇ … Leaving the Academy； and in
garrison at Valence and Auxonne； he remains always hostile；
denationalized； his old bitterness returns； and； addressing his
letters to Paoli； he says： 〃I was born when our country perished。
Thirty thousand Frenchmen vomited on our shores； drowning the throne
of liberty in floods of blood …such was the odious spectacle on which
my eyes first opened！ The groans of the dying； the shrieks of the
oppressed； tears of despair； surrounded my cradle from my birth。 。 。
I will blacken those who betrayed the common cause with the brush of
infamy。 。 。 。 vile； sordid souls corrupted by gain！〃＇17＇ A little
later； his letter to Buttafuoco； deputy in the Constituent Assembly
and principal agent in the annexation to France； is one long strain of
renewed； concentrated hatred； which； after at first trying to restrain
it within the bounds of cold sarcasm； ends in boiling over； like red…
hot lava； in a torrent of scorching invective。 … From the age of
fifteen； at the Academy and afterwards in his regiment； he finds
refuge in imagination in the past of his island；＇18＇ he recounts its
history； his mind dwells upon it for many years； and he dedicates his
work to Paoli。 Unable to get it published； he abridges it； an